STATE POLICE HELICOPTERS HELP RESCUE INJURED HIKER IN PA.

(Gardners, Pennsylvania) On Saturday March 17, 2012 at approximately 4:39 PM; Cumberland County (PA) Fire and Rescue officials were contacted about a male hiker who fell while hiking along the Appalachian Trail in the Pine Grove Furnace State Park, Cooke Township, Cumberland County, PA. The victim was unable to walk and was injured nearly one mile from the nearest roadway.

After EMS personnel arrived with the patient and assessed his injuries, they requested the Maryland State Police Aviation Command to respond and assist in the rescue. Trooper 3, the MSP helicopter based in Frederick, Maryland, was assigned to the mission, and Trooper 5, based in Cumberland, Maryland was also dispatched to support and assist Trooper 3.

While enroute, the crew from Trooper 3 learned that Cumberland County, PA was requesting an aerial patient removal utilizing Trooper 3’s rescue hoist due to rugged terrain causing a difficult and extensive extrication from the scene location. The patient suffered leg injuries and there was not an alternative means to transport the victim down from the mountain.

Trooper 3 utilized the rescue hoist to insert a crew member from the aircraft to the scene with specialized rescue equipment. With the victim secured in a rescue device, Trooper 3 maintained a hover over an opening in the trees and successfully hoisted the victim to the aircraft. Once the patient was hoisted safely to the aircraft, the crew transported the victim to a pre-designated landing zone, where he was transferred to Cumberland County EMS for transport to a local hospital.

The Maryland State Police Aviation Command has served Maryland citizens since 1970, and operates a fleet of eleven (11) helicopters from seven (7) bases throughout Maryland on a 24/7/365 basis. Missions include medevac, law enforcement, search & rescue, homeland security, and disaster assessment. The success of rescues performed by the Aviation Command depends a great deal on the cooperative effort of local fire, rescue, EMS, and law enforcement agencies.