Fall In Remote Wooded Area Required Trauma Care

The Maryland State Police Helicopter Troop 7, based in St. Mary’s, rescued a hiker who had been seriously injured after a fall in a wooded and marshy remote area in Port Tobacco in Charles County on August 23, and subsequently transported the patient to a trauma center.

Maryland State Police Aviation Command was dispatched at approximately 6:15 pm local time to assist in the rescue of the hiker, who had fallen 25 feet from a tree and down a steep embankment.

First responders had already arrived at the patient and began medical care, but then determined that the extent of the injuries required a helicopter medevac transport to a trauma center. The first responders were from Charles County Fire and Rescue, La Plata Volunteer Fire Department, and paramedics from Charles County Department of Emergency Services.

The pilots of Trooper 7 maneuvered the Augusta Westland 139 into position about 115 feet above the rescuers and the patient. A trooper/rescue technician was lowered with a rescue device, and they worked together to secure the patient in the rescue device, after which the patient was successfully hoisted to the helicopter.

Trooper 7’s crew then transported the patient to a regional trauma center while administering advanced medical care in-flight.

The rescue was successfully carried out with cooperation among the Maryland State Police Aviation Command, the La Plata Volunteer Fire Department, Charles County Department of Emergency Services, and other public safety partners in Charles County.

The State Police Aviation Command operates ten AW_139 helicopters out of seven stations across the state to provide medevac, search and rescue, aerial law enforcement, and homeland security services for the state.

FMI:  mdsp.maryland.gov/