And An Amazing Aerial Rescue

By ANN Special Correspondent Rose M. Dorcey

The Federal Aviation Administration recently commended a medical helicopter crew for their extraordinary efforts in saving the lives of two snowmobilers who plunged into the frigid bay waters near Green Bay, Wisconsin, according to Jimmy Szajkovics, Safety Programs Manager of the Milwaukee FAA Flight Standards District Office.

Szajkovics presented the award to Pilot George Miller, Paramedic Shaun Stamnes, and Emergency Medical Technician Mike Orlando at a ceremony in Green Bay at the County Rescue Services, Inc. facility, where the three are employed. Szajkovics said of the crew, "They went over and above the routine EMS operations in saving the lives of Richard Olszewski and Beth Casas. The crew's persistence is what saved them."

Responding to a 911 call at 9:49 p.m. on what Miller called, "one of the worst weather nights in Wisconsin" he and Stamnes began searching the shipping channels of the bay. With little to go on but Olszewski's description of "lights, a big green light" and a report of being "in the water, on the bay" the search began. After nearly an hour of searching and seeing no signs of the Illinois couple, the crew returned to base for a piece of equipment, the FLIR (Forward Looking Infra-Red unit) and another set of eyes, those of Mike Orlando. Just completing his EMT-Paramedic training at Northeastern Wisconsin Technical College, Orlando, 20, was about to embark on his first live mission, one he won't soon forget. When the two survivors were finally spotted, it was Orlando who pulled them into the aircraft.

Miller, a former Marine pilot who flew two tours in Viet Nam, is a Purple Heart and Distinguished Flying Cross recipient. "We really didn't expect to find anyone alive in those conditions," he said. "Blowing snow, winds gusting to 40 mph, the wind-chill was minus 45 degrees."

The crew of Eagle III, a Eurocopter EC 135 medical transport unit, returned to the shipping channels and widened the search to include Grassy Island. The FLIR unit failed to pick up any signs of heat, so they turned to their high-powered searchlight, a 30 million candlepower 'Night Sun' unit. Finally, they spotted the reflective piping of a snowmobile suit.
   
Stamnes, the Air Medical Coordinator at County Rescue Services with over 20 years in the Emergency Medical Services field, said, "Our FLIR system didn't pick up any signs of heat, so we were down to just using the searchlight. We spotted Casas just as she was exiting the water." After Olszewski had broken through the ice, Casas sped away to go for help, but soon she, too, was in the frigid water. She swam over a mile and a half before reaching the deserted island.

Immediately after transporting Casas to a waiting ambulance, the search of the island resumed. On a final pass Miller and Stamnes spotted and followed a snowmobile track out to the shipping lane. They glimpsed a faint blinking red light where there should only be green lights. It was Olszewski, hanging on to the ice and waving his helmet. Attached to the helmet was a flashing red light. It was now near midnight. Olszewski had been in the icy water for over two hours.

Olszewski and Casas were treated for hypothermia and frostbite. They were released from the hospital the following morning. Orlando said that Casas had left her helmet on during the entire ordeal, which helped maintain her body temperature. Layered snowmobile clothing, even though wet, slowed their heat loss. A morning visit to the County Rescue Services facility gave the survivors a chance to thank the crew for their efforts in saving their lives.

At the awards ceremony, the crew insisted they were just doing their jobs, but they are pleased that the work they did on that blustery January night saved the lives of two people. The FAA recognized their efforts with a plaque that reads:  The FAA Flight Standards District Office commends the personnel of County Rescue Services, Inc. for their extraordinary efforts on the night of January 21, 2004 in rescuing two people stranded on Lake Michigan. The skill and dedication of George E. Miller, Shaun Stamnes, and Mike Orlando is a credit to themselves and to County Rescue Services. This plaque is issued in recognition of a job well done.

The Eagle III is a comprehensive emergency air and ground transportation program. It provides critical care treatments to critically ill or injured patients through fixed wing, helicopter or ground ambulance from medical facilities or accident scenes. Eagle III, owned and operated by County Rescue Services, is in partnership with Bellin and St. Vincent Hospitals in Wisconsin. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, County Rescue Services has been in operation since 1982.

FMI: www.eagle3.org