US shooting prompts medevacs
On 16 September, the US Park Police Department airlifted several shooting victims from a naval facility in the US capital
On 16 September, the US Park Police Department airlifted several shooting victims from a naval facility in the US capital. Thirteen people died and many were injured after a gunman, named as Aaron Alexis, opened fire at the US Naval Sea Systems Command headquarters in Washington DC. Alexis died after he was shot by police and security staff at the base. He had access to the naval base, as he was working for Hewlett-Packard as a civilian subcontractor for a company called The Experts.
Dr Janis Orlowski, chief medical officer and chief operating officer of MedStar Washington Hospital Center, spoke at a press briefing regarding the incident at the Washington Navy Yard, confirming that MedSTAR Trauma at the Hospital Center had received three patients, all with gunshot wounds. Dr Orlowski said: “All are in critical and stable condition and are expected to survive their injuries. At this time, it does not appear MedStar Washington Hospital Center will receive additional patients, but we are prepared to receive patients.” Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus spoke briefly at the news conference, thanking first responders to the scene and the team at the Hospital Center for ‘absolute excellent care’. The patients, he said, ‘were brought to a great place’. The patients were transported to hospital via Park Police and Maryland State Police helicopters. Park Police helicopters continued to hover over the base as the events unfolded, with sharp shooters poised to respond to any more attacks on staff at the Naval headquarters.
Park Police helicopter Eagle 1 medevaced a woman who had been shot in the shoulder from the roof of one of the Navy buildings while police on the ground continued to search for the culprit. Rescue technician Sgt Dave Tolson commented on the rescue: “I found her to be a remarkable woman who showed a tremendous amount of bravery considering what she had just been through.” The crew hoisted the victim into the helicopter and flew her to MedStar Washington Hospital Center for case. Pilot in command Sgt Ken Burchell said of the flight: “The active shooter was definitely part of our thought process. We were well aware that we were a big, fat, blue and white target. But we also knew we had to get in there, so you kind of have to push that aside and just get the job done.” Another of the rescue technicians onboard the helicopter was armed, just in case the shooter appeared on the roof during the hoist. Having taken the woman to hospital, the helicopter returned to rescue the three men who had carried the woman to the roof of the building and took them the US Park Police Aviation Unit headquarters.
Caption: Park Police officers training rapelling from the helicopter
EBASEK