Nasty Fire Hoist 2011

At 1550, the squad boss trainee from squad 2 called the crew boss on the radio and announced that squad 2’s squad boss had been stung by a bee. He had only recently discovered that he was allergic to bee stings several weeks prior when he had an anaphylactic reaction and was rushed to the hospital for treatment. Everyone on the fire was aware of his allergy and 3 different people on the fire were carrying epinephrine, including the patient himself.

The crew boss rushed to the patient’s location when he received the radio call and conferred with the EMT on-scene. The EMT was preparing the patient for an epi injection and advised the crew boss that the hoist aircraft would be necessary. The hoist aircraft was ordered through dispatch and the standard Nine Line Patient Assessment was relayed to complete the request. The rappel aircraft arrived over the incident within 25 minutes to deliver medical extraction gear--including an airway kit, scoop stretcher and a litter.

At this time, the patient was experiencing burning at the site of the injection, cramping, nausea, weakness, and redness in the face. Because the patient was conscious and able to walk, for expedience, he was extracted using the Jungle Penetrator. The hoist aircraft was on-scene for 30 minutes before departing with the patient onboard and a 15-minute ETE to the hospital.

The patient arrived at the hospital 1 hour and 36 minutes after being stung and was released from the hospital the same day without complication.

Medevac, Medical Emergency, Medical or Exertion