NEW YORK – The Coast Guard assisted in rescuing an injured 12-year-old girl in West Shinnecock Bay, July 26, 2014.
A watchstander at Coast Guard Station Shinnecock received a notification of a 12-year-old girl who was reportedly unconscious with neck and back injuries on board a 38-foot pleasure craft aground in West Shinnecock Bay.
A rescue boatcrew from Station Shinnecock, crews from Suffolk County emergency medical services and South Hampton Town Bay Constables responded.
“We arrived on scene with a Bay Constable EMT and paramedic who went aboard the vessel and assessed the girl’s condition,” said Petty Officer 2nd Class Alfred Diaz, the boat driver and officer of the day at Station Shinnecock. “She gained consciousness and was able to respond to EMS, helping them determine that she had a high probability of a neck and back injury.”
The paramedic and emergency medical technician placed the girl on a backboard and transported her to the Coast Guard response boat.
“We made the determination to use our boat to transport the girl back to the station since it was a smoother platform, and it was easier for the crews to maneuver her onto because she was secured onto a backboard,” added Diaz.
The girl and her mother were transported back to the station where they were airlifted to Stonybrook Hospital by Suffolk County Sherriff’s rescue helicopter.
“Everything seemed to happen so fast once we got on scene with the mariners and everybody knew what had to be done,” said Diaz. “EMS went right to work assisting the girl and making sure our crew was prepared to receive the injured girl and her mother.”
The vessel was refloated and returned to its homeport in Penny Pond.
NEW YORK – The Coast Guard assisted in rescuing an injured 12-year-old girl in West Shinnecock Bay, July 26, 2014. A paramedic and emergency medical technician from South Hampton Town Bay Constables placed the girl on a backboard and transported her to the Coast Guard response boat then to Station Shinnecock where she was airlifted. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Office 2nd Class Alfred Diaz.
NEW YORK – The Coast Guard assisted in rescuing an injured 12-year-old girl in West Shinnecock Bay, July 26, 2014. A paramedic and emergency medical technician placed the girl on a backboard and transported her to the Coast Guard response boat. The girl and her mother were transported back to the station where they were airlifted to Stonybrook Hospital by Suffolk County Sherriff’s rescue helicopter. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Office 2nd Class Alfred Diaz.