[Ares-races] Maritime Mobile Service Net Handles Medical Emergency At Sea

[BillLennox at aol.com]

Source:  http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/06/09/3/?nc=1

Maritime Mobile Service Net Handles Medical Emergency At Sea
 
NEWINGTON, CT, Jun 9, 2004--Members of the Maritime Mobile Service Net 
recently were instrumental in successfully handling yet another medical emergency at 
sea. A young hand aboard a commercial fishing vessel in the Caribbean Sea off 
the coast of Central America had suffered serious knife wounds in a fight 
with a crewmate May 25. Although not an amateur licensee, the captain of the 
Motor Vessel Brandon Travis knew he could get prompt assistance on the net's 
14.300 MHz frequency.

"Under normal conditions, transmissions by non-amateur stations on this 
frequency are prohibited by international law," said Assistant Net Manager Tom Job, 
VE3II, who lives near Toronto and took the initial call for help. "But when 
an emergency occurs at sea, anyone can use the frequency for assistance." The 
MMSN is a group of volunteer Amateur Radio operators dedicated to assisting 
seagoing vessels.

The captain, who identified himself as "Chris," explained that the 
17-year-old crew member had been stabbed twice in the arms and once in the back. "The 
stab wound in the back was of the greatest concern," Job said, "as the knife had 
entered between the third and fourth rib on the right side of the back, and 
the seven-inch blade had penetrated to its full depth." The wound was just a 
few inches from the victim's spine.

At the time, the 80-foot, steel-hulled Brandon Travis was reported two days 
east of Roatan, Honduras. The vessel, owned by a Honduran company named Flying 
Fish, was in relatively calm seas at the time traveling 6 knots in clear 
weather.

Job says the captain asked someone to contact the United States Coast Guard 
for help with the injured crewman. After obtaining the necessary initial 
information, Job contacted the Coast Guard's District 7 Search and Rescue Center in 
Miami and relayed the situation report. The Coast Guard then contacted 
Honduran authorities to arrange to evacuate the injured man. Net Control Station Rick 
Jones, WB6LNH, in North Carolina advised the captain to put out calls every 
15 minutes on VHF marine channel 16 in the hope of contacting the approaching 
rescue team there.

The net also was able to contact Amateur Radio operator and physician Jim 
Hirschman, K4TCV, a net member in Miami, and get him on frequency. Hirschman has 
extensive experience assisting with injuries and medical emergencies via the 
radio. He was one of the principal MMSN members to provide assistance and 
advice to the parents of Willem van Tuyl, then 13, after he was shot and seriously 
injured in a pirate attack (see "Hams Help Get Wounded Boy from High Seas to 
Hospital").

After determining from Captain that the injured man was in pain and apparent 
shock and having difficulty breathing, Hirschman advised the captain on how to 
stabilize the victim and treat his injuries. No oxygen was available aboard 
the vessel. "The injury was life-threatening, and medical evacuation was of the 
utmost urgency," Job said.

The Honduran Navy assured the Coast Guard that it was launching a rescue team 
to intercept the Brandon Travis via aircraft and get the injured crewman to a 
medical facility. Jones, as the net control station, relayed this information 
to the vessel's captain, who indicated that he'd also activated an onboard 
Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacon (EPIRB), although he thought its 
batteries might be weak.

Nearly three hours after the initial call, Job said, "all that could be done 
had been done, and the waiting began." Ultimately, the Brandon Travis was 
redirected from its original course to Laguna de Caratasca, Honduras--at least 12 
hours away.

Hirschman was joined by fellow physician Peter Sosnow, W1KY, in Niskayuna, 
New York, an emergency room trauma specialist. "The doctors were apprised each 
hour of the injured person's condition and were ready to recommend changes in 
the treatment," Job said.

Job said the Maritime Mobile Service Network maintained an hourly radio 
schedule with the Brandon Travis for position reports and medical updates for 
several hours past its normal closing time of 10 PM EDT.

The captain of the Brandon Travis informed the net early the next morning 
that the injured man had been removed to a Honduran naval vessel and taken to a 
hospital in Punta Lampira, Honduras. "Without the assistance of the net, this 
situation could have resulted in the death of the crew member," Job added. The 
stabbing victim received treatment for his injuries in Honduras and spent a 
couple of days in the hospital before being released.

"The Brandon Travis did check into the net two days after the incident and 
thanked everyone on net for their help," Job noted. At the captain's request, 
the net supplied him with a copy of ARRL Amateur Radio license study materials.

"He was super impressed with the net's response and now has 14.300 in the 
ship SSB radio's memory," Job said. "Once more, Amateur Radio was ready and 
willing to assist in an emergency situation. Chalk up another one for the good 
guys."

Among other amateurs directly participating were Clyde McAfee, KG4BVR, Bob 
Botik, K5SIV, and Mike Pilgrim, K5MP. Job commended the other operators and net 
control stations for helping to keep the frequency clear to expedite traffic. 



////////////////////////////////////////////////// Last Item 
/////////////////////////////////////////////////

Bill Lennox
US Air Force (Retired)
Full Time College Student (Emergency Management)
KD7EFP
Assistant Emergency Coordinator - Plans (ARES), Washington County, Oregon
Assistant Radio Officer - Plans (RACES), Washington County, Oregon