In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Thomas Cooney, USCG RS 28.  Before we get into some of his crazy rescues, we go way back in time and Thomas talks about how the Coast Guard always naturally integrated into his life.  As we talk about the different moments in time, Thomas gives us a bit of a history lesson. We take a walk down memory lane and he recalls his first memorable call out in San Francisco with a plane crash.  He talks about a rescue where he saved three lives, earning him an Air Medal. This story led us into another rescue story that just so happened to occur the night before the award ceremony.  We finish off with a couple stories that are the types of missions that you are grateful to walk away from when you work in this field. We end with a thank you message to the Coast Guard Aviation Association.  Enjoy! 

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In this ASTerisk episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Mike Fox from Onboard Systems. We get deep in the weeds with rules and regulations for the manufacturers of Human External Cargo (HEC).  We talk about what his company does and continues to do in order to make the best cargo hook on the market.  We talk about all sorts of applications for the cargo hook and the regulatory side of the dual cargo hook system.  Moreover, we specifically get into the HEC side of things and discuss a few rescues where longline/short haul was the best option.  Enjoy!

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by David Weber - National Park Ranger, Paramedic, and Climbing Ranger. David splits his time between Teton National Park, WY and Denali National Park, AK. One of the first rescues he talks about was one of the first stories he remembers as a rescueman. The patient was injured in a location that was a far way up the river and trail. After an eight hour hike out, the patient was carried out on a litter. Then we get into a few stories that Dave remembers from climbing in Denali, one of which was a climbing incident where two guys had taken a long fall.  He went out on another call for carbon monoxide poisoning and the non-standard response made for a very memorable rescue. Then we got into a wild story where a team of climbers had a fall. One of the victims had an open tib-fib fracture from the fall.  As the hours passed, the team split up and made the rescue even harder.  We also talk a little bit about good advice that we have been given over the years.  A couple that we discuss are, knowing the difference between “YOU SUCK and THAT SUCKED” and “What's the plan and who's in charge?” Enjoy!

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we have the honor and privilege to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Finnish Border Guard Rescue Swimmer Program. The Finnish Border Guard created an Air Patrol Squadron in 1981.  After a few years of flying, they decided they needed Rescue Swimmers.  On 01JUN1982, the Finnish Border Guard created their Rescue Swimmer Program.  Without any formal training, instruction, or even knowing what they needed, Juha Raatikainen (JP) became Finnish Border Guard Rescue Swimmer #01.  JP tells us of some of the growing pains they went through when the program began.  He talks about the trial and errors with equipment, procedures, and the interesting collateral jobs that they were asked to do.  He tells us of one of his first big rescues that had a tanker on fire.  Next, Sami Ollila joins us again to explain what the Finnish Border Guard Rescue Swimmers do for recruitment, training, gear and more.  Enjoy!

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In this special Memorial Day episode of The Real ResQ, we reflect and honor some of those who have fallen while serving The United States of America. This episode is dedicated to our finned brother Chief Petty Officer Fernando Jorge USCG RS #404, who lost his life in the crash of the 6535 along with Pilot, Lt. Cmdr. Dale Taylor, Co-Pilot Lt. j.g. Thomas Cameron, and Flight Mechanic Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew "Drew" Knight.

In this episode, we are joined by a few people that knew and had a close relationship with Fernando Jorge. We hear from his sister Gina, Sean Duron USCG RS 407, Ed Hannah USCG RS 450, and Jason Edmiston USCG RS 438.  We also take a moment to discuss the accident with Dave Callen, Certified Flight Instructor Pilot and SR3 Rescue Concepts Instructor. 

We remember you and we thank you for your service. Enjoy!

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Dillon Nelson, an Air National Guardsman and his dog Jakoby.  This is a little different than your standard Search and Rescue team because Jakoby is a cadaver dog.  For this duo, their missions are more of the Search and Recovery. As we know, not all Search and Rescue missions have a happy ending, however, with a way to get closure for the friends and family, Dillon and Jakoby are two that help make it happen.  Dillon tells us a few of his memorable searches which include a missing 4 year old, a missing ROTC student, as well as a bit of a wild ghost story.  Plus we get into all the training and what he and Jakoby have had to do in order to be nationally certified in the detection of human remains. Enjoy!

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Frank Breese, firefighter, paramedic, Army National Guard, and more.  Being a 22 year paramedic, Frank has been there and done that.  While he was in the Army, he did a tour in Iraq during the war as a Combat Medic. During that tour he completed 80 combat medical missions, 125 combat flight hours and earned himself two Air Medals.  One mission that stands out to him was a rescue call out for a FOB (Forward Operating Base) that was hit during a sandstorm.  Currently Frank is working in Tulsa, Oklahoma as a firefighter, a paramedic, and with heavy rescue and rope rescue units. He is also part of the USAR Team (Urban Search and Rescue) and the HSAR Team (Helicopter Search and Rescue), which can and have been deployed all over the country.  Enjoy!

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Jason Hawes, USN Rescue Swimmer.  While he served only four years in the Navy, he earned a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and was recognized by the city of Roanoke, VA. He describes a rescue that is definitely one that he will never forget.  He walks us through this incredible call out for a helicopter crash off his ship in twelve foot waves.  When the alarm sounded, the first thought was, “this is just another drill.” Then they come up on scene where he was looking at his ship's helicopter crew in the water.  At that point it was GO time for Jason and the RIB boat crew.  Jason deployed off the RIB boat, swimming in 12-15 foot waves to rescue the four helicopter crew members. We talk about a diver who was disoriented underwater where they were doing surface dives to try and locate and get back to the surface.  We finish off with a few training stories that remind us there is wildlife out there in the ocean.  Enjoy!

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Steve Farris and Danny Casanova from Seminole County Sheriff’s Office.  They bring us through a rescue that happened a week before the recording.  They were responding to a missing person call of a man who had fallen out of a canoe and tried to walk back home.  However, when he got himself lost in thick woods, it turned into a search for a missing person.  After 44 hours of being missing, the crews on the ground found him and called the helicopter in to finish the rescue. Enjoy!

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Kenneth Smith, USN Rescue Swimmer. From the very start of Rescue Swimmer school, even though he was cracked in the face and was bleeding in the pool, Ken knew that this was the job for him!  He shared  amazing stories from throughout his entire career.  Cases highlighted included being deployed to the water to look for an aircraft part that may have been thrown overboard and a year later another bit of a crazy occurred when he was deployed to the water to gather bales of cocaine dropped by drug runners. That story will have you laughing!  Further in his career, Ken was stationed with HSL46. With this squadron, they were deployed for Hurricane Katrina where he earned the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. Then two weeks after that was over, they were deployed for Hurricane Rita where he earned an Air Medal. Enjoy!

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