Canada and U.S. work together to thwart terrorist threat to the Great Lakes
This Page was Last Updated on: July 3, 2009
Coast Guard Escanaba Lost in WWII with ALL Hands
Coast Guards Newest Work Horse
The purpose of the web page is to educate, Inform, and pay tribute to the several thousand first responders, Emergency medical technicians, Emergency medical specialists, And paramedics both volunteer and paid.
In Emergency medical services, many people become sick and injured in a variety of places, sometimes in vehicle accidents, Assaults. Individuals can suddenly become ill at restaurants or in their offices. In the state of Michigan which is surrounded by the five lakes Refer to as the great lakes. A large industry uses the great lakes for transportation of raw materials, needed for industry; the great lakes are served by many freighters that serve on the water transporting assorted materials.
The great lakes are also used by many pleasure craft, sightseeing boats etc. The United States coast guard as well as the Canadian coast guard had been charged for over 210 years. Many Coast Guard Personnel are Red Cross trained who respond to various medical and traumatic emergencies on the great lakes examples such as shipping personnel who become ill or are injured and due to the size and distance of the waters they travel, the coast guard responds either by boats and or helicopters to extricate the sick or injured. In most instances the sick or injured patient is then transported to land and turned over to EMS Personnel who continue treatment, and transportation to the nearest and appropriate hospital.
This page is intended to show the assets of the United States and Canadian Coast Guard are utilized to provide Emergency Medical treatment, stabilization of the patient, followed then by coordinating the transport of the patient by the Coast Guard to waiting Emergency Medical Technicians who continue the care and transportation by advanced life support agencies to the appropriate medical facility.
Coast Guard and EMS
The New 47" Motor Life Boats
HOMELAND SECURITY
The United States Coast Guard's homeland security mission is not new to us. It is more visible today than it was prior to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, but it is just as important as it was when we first began protecting our national sovereignty 211 years ago. The Coast Guard maintains a clear vision and a keen sense of vigilance while keeping watch for threats to our security and those who would do us harm.
As part of Operation Noble Eagle, the Coast Guard is at a heightened state of alert protecting more than 361 ports and 95,000 miles of coastline, America's longest border. The Coast Guard continues to play an integral role in maintaining the operations of our ports and waterways by providing a secure environment in which mariners and the American people can safely go about the business of living and working freely.
In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Coast Guard immediately mobilized more than 2,000 Reservists in the largest homeland defense and port security operation since World War II. The Coast Guard has increased its vigilance, readiness, and patrols to protect the country's 95,000 miles of coastline, including the Great Lakes and inland waterways.
The Coast Guard's Homeland Security Role Includes:
Protect ports, the flow of commerce, and the marine transportation system from terrorism.
Maintain maritime border security against illegal drugs, illegal aliens, firearms, and weapons of mass destruction.
Ensure that we can rapidly deploy and resupply our military assets, both by keeping Coast Guard units at a high state of readiness, and by keeping marine transportation open for the transit assets and personnel from other branches of the armed forces.
Protect against illegal fishing and indiscriminate destruction of living marine resources, prevention and response to oil and hazardous material spills--both accidental and intentional.
Coordinate efforts and intelligence with federal, state, and local agencies.
Operation Noble Eagle refers to U.S. military operations associated with homeland defense and civil support to federal, state and local agencies in the United States, and includes the increased security measures taken after the September 11 terrorist attacks. The operation involves joint agency coordination and cooperation to ensure our nation and borders are protected from future attacks. An increased presence will prevent and deter those who would cause harm to innocent Americans.
Operation Enduring Freedom refers generally to U.S. military operations associated with the war on terrorism outside the United States. Coast Guard port security units have deployed in support of this operation.
Canada and the United States are initiating a cross border program to share information and increase security boardings on foreign commercial ships entering the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes. This program will be in place before the Seaway opens March 26. The events of September 11, 2001 demonstrated the need for increased security measures to protect our waterways. The threat is real; every ship that transits our waters passes critical infrastructure and large population areas. Both countries are working together to provide maximum security, while minimizing disruption to commercial shipping.
All ships entering the St. Lawrence Seaway have to give 96-hour advance notification of arrival to officials of both Canada and the United States. Ships failing to give notice or providing incomplete notice will be prohibited from entering the Seaway. The U.S. Coast Guard and the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency special analysis units will conduct initial screening of the ship's information and submit the crew and passenger list to a centralized information center to review for any potential threats. If a potential threat is identified, the ship will be boarded for a security review by a team of personnel from Canadian agencies before it enters the Seaway and the Great Lakes. These boardings are in addition to random boardings and other security measures already in place.
Many agencies have worked together to create this program, including Transport Canada, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation, U.S. Customs, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the U.S. Consul General's Office in Montreal. Their efforts are vital to protecting the heartland of Canada and the United States--the St. Lawrence Seaway/Great Lakes system generates $3 billion annually and 17,000 jobs in Canada and adds another $2 billion and more than 150,000 jobs in the United States as nearly 200 millions tons of cargo are moved each year. "Working together our two great nations have and will continue to ensure that the St. Lawrence Seaway and the Great Lakes are a safe, secure and economically sound maritime system," according to RADM James D. Hull, Commander 9th U.S. Coast Guard District.
Coast Guard Enlists Mariners for Homeland Security
In the wake of the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks, Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Providence and Coast Guard Group Woods Hole are encouraging recreational and commercial mariners to participate in a national effort to protect the country's shores from aggressors.
"Those who work at sea, along the coasts, and in coastal communities know best what is, or is not ordinary," said Senior Chief Mario Tomellini of MSO Providence. "They can be valuable contributors to the protection of our nation by reporting suspicious activities in and around the water."
The Maritime Domain Awareness program is a joint effort by the Marine Safety Office in Providence and Coast Guard Group Woods Hole to provide a hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, which people can call to report any unusual or questionable activity on the water in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Some examples of unusual or suspicious activities to report include:
Unfamiliar individuals who:
* Loiter or take photos, notes or sketches near commercial/passenger vessel activities, bridges or waterside facilities
* Attempt to rent/buy fishing or recreational vessels with cash for short term use
* Attempt to gain access to waterside facilities without proper identification
Vessels that:
* Circle in and around pilings, particularly near commercial traffic
* Loiter offshore, near commercial/passenger vessel activities
Other items of interest/concern:
* Suspicious attachments to bridges and overpasses
* Vehicles left unattended or abandoned near commercial/passenger facilities
* Unusual packages or deliveries
* Vendors or roadside food stands recently established near commercial passenger terminals or waterside facilities
To report any suspicious or unusual activities, call Coast Guard Group Woods Hole at (508) 457-3211 or in the event of an emergency, dial 911.
The New 47 Foot Motor Life Boat
Average Day for the Coast Guard
The Coast Guard, during an average day, will:
•Conduct 109 Search and Rescue Cases
•Save 10 lives
•Assist 192 people in distress
•Protect $2,791,841 in property
•Launch 396 small boat missions
•Launch 164 aircraft missions, logging 324 hours
•Board 144 vessels
•Seize 169 pounds of marijuana and 306 pounds of cocaine worth $9,589,000
•Interdict and rescue 14 illegal migrants
•Board 100 large vessels for port safety checks
•Respond to 20 oil or hazardous chemical spills totaling 2,800 gallons
•Service 135 aids to navigation
Coat Guard Budget Statistics
amount = millions
FYR 2008 Budget Request
Search and Rescue $407.30 12.04%
Aids to Navigation $491.80 14.54%
Marine Safety $456.50 13.49%
Environmental Protection $374.60 11.07%
Law Enforcement $1,445.50 42.73%
Ice Operations $128.90 3.81%
Defense Readiness $78.20 2.32%
Total Operating Expenses $3,382.8
Total FY2006 Budget request,
including Acquisition and other items: $5,181.1
U.S. Coast Guard Ice Tender Mackinaw Placed into service in 1943. And was retired in2006
Paramedics join Coast Guard Patrols
Irondequoit Volunteer Ambulance paramedics in New York, are taking to the water to help the U.S. Coast Guard provide emergency medical services to local boaters. Since July, Irondequoit Volunteer Ambulance paramedics have been serving aboard weekend Coast Guard patrols on Lake Ontario, Irondequoit Bay and the Genesee River.
While the Coast Guard has its own emergency medical technicians, having paramedics -- who are allowed to administer drugs, start airways and perform other treatments the technicians cannot -- on the boats saves time and lives, said Irondequoit the Ambulance Deputy Chief.
With a medical emergency on the lake, if you have to take somebody into shore for treatment that can be a two-hour ride. That is crucial time. The paramedic is right there as part of the boat crew and as soon as the patient is on board the vessel, medical treatment can begin.
Paramedics have already treated three or four critical emergencies since the program began.
The Paramedic Ride Along initiative is supported by a $10,000 grant secured by New York State Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle, D-Irondequoit. Siteing the essential need in increasing boater safety on regional waterways.
The money will help offset the cost of upgrading medical equipment -- including a heart monitor that can fax vital information to an area hospital while the patient is en route -- for use on the waterways, as well as pay for additional training and the cost of providing the paramedics. Coast Guard officials state, "This allows us to provide a higher level of medical care."
LAKE MICHIGAN The Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock underway on Lake Michigan during builders trials. The 225-foot cutter was built by the Marinette Marine Corp. located in Marinette, Wisc. Hollyhock has replaced the Coast Guard Cutter Bramble a 180-foot buoy tender built during World War II. Hollyhock is now stationed in Port Huron, Mich., as a commissioned USCG Vesssel.
Source: United States Coast Guard
Why is there so much information on this Emergency Medical Services web site about the United States Coast Guard? The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States military. Up until recently The Coast Guard has been viewed as only a coastal waterways watch.
The Coast Guard is a highly trained group of men and women charged with the safety of our waterways, the correlation between the Coast Guard and Emergency Medical Services has and remains a close Operating Group.
The United States Coast Guard trains its personnel in all levels of Pre- Hospital emergency care. Each and every Coast Guard personnel are trained from Basic first aid through the levels of Basic emergency medical technicians, emergency medical technician specialists and emergency medical technician paramedics. They respond to medical and trauma injuries on waterways all over the United States.
Their mold of transportation consists of Coast Guard Rapid Response Vessels, Buoy Tenders, Patrol Boats, and both long and short range Helicopters. They stabilize patients and fly or shuttle their patients to shore and in most cases, turning over patient care to Emergency Medical Services Personnel at pre-designated locations.
Without the United States Coast Guard, patients who are fighting the golden hour would face critical life threatening and even fatal consequences without this joint cooperation, mutual aid and RESPECT.
Lake Michigan has an average depth of 279 feet and a maximum depth of 925 feet
Lake Erie has an average depth of 62 feet and a maximum depth of 210 feet.
Lake Huron has an average depth of 175 feet and a maximum depth of 750 feet
Lake Ontario has an average depth of 283 feet and a maximum depth of 802 feet
Lake Superior has an average depth of 500 feet and a maximum depth of 1332 feet
New Coast Guard 225 ft Cutter HOLLYHOCK which was launched on Saturday January 25, 2003. The Hollyhock and is now stationed in Port Huron, Michigan as of October 2003. The Hollyhock
Retired Woodrush
The New Great Lakes Icebreaker Mackinaw set to be delivered to the Coast Guard in October 2005. A multi-mission vessel, designed to maintain buoys and other aids-to-navigation in addition to icebreaking duties. This vessel will have the capacity for search and rescue, marine environmental response, maritime law enforcement, and Homeland security roles.
The Mackinaw is 240 ft long, and has a maximum beam of 60 ft, designed to accommodate a crew of 55. Mackinaw (30) is outfitted with a state of the art bridge and machinery systems. The new vessel is a diesel electric integrated propulsion plant along with azimuth podded propulsions. The new Mackinaw will have the capability to break 32” of level ice at 3 knots with high tech maneuverability characteristics.
The new Mackinaw (30) is replacing the current Mackinaw (83) both vessels will remain home-ported in Cheboygan, Michigan the later becoming a museum, however the Mackinaw (83) will remain in a 5 year recall status. The name “MACKINAW,” has become an icon representing the epitome of Coast Guard service on the Great Lakes. To many generations of mariners the Mackinaw has always been there, strong, reliable, and inspiring confidence.
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD IN ACTION
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2004, THE NEW USCG ALDER WAS LAUNCHED IN MARINETTE WI, THE ALDER REPLACED THE SUNDEW. THE SUNDEW HAS BEEN SUNDEW WAS DECOMISSIONED IN SEPT 2004.
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD ASSESTS
225 FT BOUY TENDER HOLLYHOCK
U.S.C.G.RICH IN MILITARY HISTORY AND HEARTBREAK
The first cutter home ported in Grand Haven was USCGC Escanaba (WPG-77). She arrived, coated with ice, in the winter of 1932 to a warm welcome by the community and the Grand Haven High School band. She was a "Michigan" ship from the beginning, built at Defoe Works in Bay City and commissioned soon after for the arduous duty of ice breaking on Lake Michigan. In early 1942, Escanaba was transferred to war duty in the North Atlantic and assigned to the "Greenland Patrol".
While carrying out escort duties for many of the Allied convoys bound for Greenland and Iceland, Escanaba rescued survivors of two torpedoed ships, the USS Cherokee, rescuing 22 men on June 15, 1942 and the USS Dorchester, rescuing 133 more on February 3, 1943. Four months later, Escanaba was steaming in company with the cutters Mojave, Tampa, Storis, Algonquin and Raritan providing protection to a convoy enroute to Newfoundland. During the early morning hours of June 13, 1943, Escanaba herself was torpedoed and quickly sank. Raritan picked up the only two survivors, while 101 friends and neighbors of Grand Haven were lost forever to both the perils of war and the sea.
The anguish of this small, close knit community over the devastating loss of Escanaba was channeled into raising one million dollars in war bonds to purchase a replacement cutter the following year. The third, and most recent Escanaba, a 270-foot Famous Class cutter, was commissioned during festival week in Grand Haven in 1987. The highlight of the annual Coast Guard Festival celebration is the National Memorial Service at Escanaba Park on the Grand Haven waterfront. This Friday-afternoon event during every festival week commemorates the tragic loss of the first Escanaba in World War II and the sacrifice of all Coast Guard members who have died while fulfilling the Coast Guard Motto "SEMPER PARATUS" ("Always Ready").
RETIRED 44 FT LIFE BOAT
DECOMMISSIONING CEREMONY FOR USCGC SUNDEW WAS HELD ON MAY 27, 2004
The The Duluth, Minn based Coast Guard Cutter SUNDEW (WLB 404) was decommissioned after 60 years of service. The newest addition USCG Alder took the Sundew's Place.
The Coast Guard Cutter BRAMBLE was decommissioned on 22 May 2003. Design and construction for the USCGC BRAMBLE (WLB-392) occurred at Marine Iron and Shipbuilding Corporation in Duluth, Minnesota. BRAMBLE’s keel was laid on 02 August 1943, she was launched on 23 October 1943 and was commissioned on 22 April 1944. The original cost for the hull and machinery was $925,464. BRAMBLE is one of 39 original 180-foot seagoing buoy tenders built between 1942 and 1944. All of the original tenders, except the IRONWOOD, were built in Duluth.
In the course of BRAMBLE’s service, the cutter had been awarded many awards and ribbons. She has received the Department of Transportation Gold Medal, CG Unit Commendation, CG Meritorious Unit Commendation, CG "E" Ribbon, CG Bicentennial Unit Commendation, American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Arctic Service Medal and the Special OPS Service Ribbon.
With the new technology evolving, the door has opened for the Coast Guard Cutter HOLLYHOCK (WLB-214) which has taken over the primary mission of buoy tending that the 180-foot BRAMBLE had held. The new 225-foot HOLLYHOCK is also able to help with environmental cleanups, search and rescue, law enforcement and icebreaking. She has now been commissioned and placed into service in Port Huron, Michigan.
GREAT LAKES ARE IN THE COAST GUARDS NINTH DISTRICT
The Bramble has been Decommissioned and is Retired
USCG Buoy Tender Hollyhock
My family and I had an opportunity to attend the United States Coast Festival in Grand Haven Michigan marking its birthday. At the festival we had an opportunity to both tour the Hollyhock and speak to members of the crew. The conversation later turned to the collision of the hollyhock with the MV Stewart J. Cort. The crew members related how the accident actually occurred and how “horrifying those minutes were.” The Hollyhock was assisting the 1000 foot plus Stewart J. Cort in heavy ice when the Hollyhock bumped the Cort, and sustained damage to her bow.
My family and I have the highest respect for the men and women who serve in the United States Coast Guard, and their continued role as a division of the United States Military who strive to defend our nation and who have answered the call in every conflict and War.
Speaking with the crew members was very educational the Hollyhock was not the first vessel to accidentally bump a freighter while braking through heavy ice, there have been other Coast Guard vessels involved in similar occurrences such as the “Ice Breaker Mackinaw,” and the Woodbrush, the point being is that accidents are going to occur when you have two or more vessels inherently close to one another the chances are going to rise of some type of inadvertent contact.
Because of the fact that the Hollyhock was a new asset, along with the Hollyhocks then upcoming commissioning ceremony, that had followed the retirement of the Coast Guard Buoy Tender Bramble, the accident became very high profile and subsequently was investigated by the United States Coast Guard Investigations Board that later determined that the Captain of the Hollyhock would be held responsible for the March Collision with the Cort. The investigation showed that the Captain was responsible but not grossly negligent for the inadvertent accident, and that he would and does remain Captain of the USCG Hollyhock.
MOBILE BAY VESSEL 103
PORT HURON STATIONED
HOLLYHOCK
CLICK HERE FOR PAGE2
THE COMPLETED MACKINAW (30)
Coast Guard Decommission SUNDEW
The New 47 Foot Motor Life Boat
Click Vessel to Enlarge
USCG MACKINAW
&
CCG RISLEY
MACKINAW (83) 2005
NEW MACKINAW BY DICK LUND USED WITH PERMISSION
THE NEW MACKINAW--PHOTO BY DICK LUND
03-16-2005 PRIOR TO LAUNCH
THE NEW MACKINAW (30) WAS LAUNCHED ON APRIL 02, 2005
U.S. COAST GUARD NEEDS YOUR URGENT SUPPORT CLICK "GO" AND READ PLEASE
The USCG Hollyhock has since been repaired
June 2005: Lt. Cmdr. Mike McBrady as captain of the 225-foot-cutter Hollyhock “because his commanding admiral said he lacks the leadership needed to command the ship and its crew.” Temporarily taking McBrady place has been Cmdr. Don Triner, commander of the new 240-foot Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw.
July 9, 2005, Lt. Cdr. Michael Davanzo took charge of the Hollyhock during a change of command ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio. On Thursday, July 7, 2005, Davanzo previously commanded the Coast Guard Cutter Rambler, based in Charleston, S.C., and the Coast Guard Cutter James Rankin in Baltimore, Md.
NAVIGATION MENU
EMS STAR OF LIFE SYMBOL & DEFINITION
THIS PICTURE SHOWS HER FIRST INTRODUCTION TO
WATER
MACKINAW 83 1978 COLORS
MH-68 COAST GUARD'S NEWEST AIR WEAPON
NEW CCG 47FOOTER'S IN 2005
COAST GUARD RESPONDS IN PROUDEST TRADITION TO HURRICANE KATRINA AND RITA
The United States Coast Guard has and is responding in an outstanding fashion to the rapid deployment of assets to New Orleans. Assets such as USCG Dauphins used to pluck men, women, and children from the tops of roofs. The pictures define the great response that was taking place prior to the arrival of Military assets. Coast Guardsman also have provided much need Emergency Medical Services and continue to do so. Assests and personnel from the Great Lakes region have joined the men and women already on scene.
Coast Guard surveys and searches for stranded residents in isolated area's unreachable by other means
A Coast Guard Dauphine returning with formerly stranded residents plucked from the roofs of home surrounded by deep and treacherous water
Coast Guardsmen prepare to take off in preperation for search and rescue
Obstacles encountered by the Coast Air operations include heavy smoke from burning fires around and in the city of New Orleans
THE LAKE GUARDIANS
PRE-CONSTRUCTION PHOTO
MACKINAW SECTION HAS BEEN REBUILT & UPDATED
Senate OKs bill to make Icebreaker Mackinaw (83) a Museum
The U.S. Senate voted Thursday October 27, 2005, to convey ownership of the Mackinaw to the city of Cheboygan, Mich., its longtime home port, and Cheboygan County after it is decommissioned in 2006.
Once the transfer becomes official, community leaders plan to anchor the 290-foot ship on the Cheboygan River and turn it into a historical and maritime museum.
Both business and civic leaders hope the Icebreaker Mackinaw Museum will boost tourism in Cheboyan, a Lake Huron town that is located about 15 miles south of the Mackinac Bridge.
Final approval will come after President Bush signs the senate bill approving the transfer of the Mackinaw.
resource: Detroit Free Press and U.S. Senate Website
MACKINAW (30) ARRIVED IN HER HOME PORT OF CHEBOYGAN DECEMBER 17, 2005
The New Mac was entering Grand Haven Monday December 12, 2005 at 4:00 pm shortly after entering the channel the Mac from the center of the channel to the right hitting the south channel wall a short distance from were we were. The Mac sustained damage to the starboard bow just above the waterline.
The video
Click here to read and view pictures involving the Hollyhock incident
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Mackinaw (83)
OPERATION ICEBREAKOUT--2006
The commanding officer of the Mackinaw (WAGB-83) signed over control of the cutter to the Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum, Inc. at 2:00 p.m. Friday July 9, 2006 in the Captain's cabin aboard ship.
The Icebreaker Mackinaw Maritime Museum took over official control on June 30,2006 after it was delivered to Mackinaw City, Mich.
MACKINAW SIGNED OVER TO THE ICEBREAKER MACKINAW MARITIME MUSEUM
The United States Coast on June 10, 2006, said thank you thank you to the "Mighty Mac" Mackinaw (83) in what turned out to be a very emotional goodbye as the Mackinaw was (83) Decommissioned in front of a capacity crowd which included the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard and Congress Dennis Hatcher.
The new 90 million dollar Mackinaw (30) was officially welcomed by the United States Coast Guard beginning her career as the replacement to the 1944 Mackinaw and beginning her new role as a multi-task Vessel.
Site photos are currently being finalized for upload to this site page which depict a day that was filled with sadness and celebration.
Retired U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw’s New Home
The U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw is now anchored at her permanent home in located at Mackinaw MI. A dock in Mackinaw City was made available and was both large enough and deep enough to moor the 290-foot ice-breaker. The site was formerly the home dock for the former Chief Wawatam.
The dock owned by Bill Shepler owner of Shepler’s Mackinac Island Ferry Service made the dock available to the Mackinaw Museum Committee, after attempts to retain the Mackinaw in Cheboygan, which had served as the ships home port for more than six decades.
The Mackinaw Museum officials were nervous following their request to utilize the state of Michigan owned dock in Mackinaw City, which owns the former car ferry location prior to and during construction of the Mackinaw Bridge. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources officials turned down their requests citing the current ongoing renovations.
Mr. Bill Shepler granted the use of the dock for the retired Mackinaw which had been the most powerful and technologically-advanced icebreaker on the Great Lakes at the time of her launch in 1944. The Mackinaw kept navigational pathways free of ice for commercial shipping through winter months from 1944 until her decommissioning on June 10, 2006.
The Mackinaw will open as a Museum in Mackinaw City in August of 2006.
Coast Guard's
New 45-foot Medium
Response Boat
Picture Source:
Army Corp of Engineers
2 Coast Guard Crewmen Killed During Mission
Coast Guard Station "Muskegon," Prepare for Departure
08-17-2006--Two crew members assigned to the "Healy," a Seattle-based Coast Guard ice breaker were killed August 17, 2006, while taking part on a scientific support mission. The Healy is currently reported to be some 500 miles north of Barrow Alaska.
Lt. Jessica Hill, 30, of St. Augustine, Fla., and Petty Officer 2nd Class Steven Duque, 26, of Miami died as the result of a diving accident. Dave's EMS Headquarters extends it's prayers and share the enormous loss of these two Armed Service's Personnel
9-29-06 BOATER ESCAPES WATER SPOUT ON LAKE MICHIGAN"GO"
THE LAKE GUARDIANS
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In 1994 My wife and I were treated to a Tour of the T.C. Air Station these helo were in the Process of being changed out to the new short Range helos, with the pictured helos that were transfered to Coastal work
Petty Officer 3rd Class Ronald Gill, 26 A Coast Guardsmen from Rhode Island. Gill fell off a 25-foot fast response boat in Puget Sound near Vashon Island on March 25, 2007, and died of injuries suffered when the boat's propeller struck his head.
Gill, a reservist on active duty who had served in the Coast Guard since October 2003, was a native of Cranston, R.I. He is survived by his wife, his parents and a brother.
VIDEO'S SECTION
I have a deep respect and admiration for your service to our Country both here in the United States as well as Coast Guard Forces assigned over seas. The U.S. Coast Guard is the most multi tasked branch of the United States Military. Your service and your abilities have been and are critical to our Country's Security and Defense. 2007 the U.S. Coast Guard has Seized over 4.7 Billion in Cocaine, and have now Save over 1 Million Individuals over the course of the Conception of the Coast Guard.
While members of the nation's fifth armed service are all trained as first responders, Petty Officer 3rd Class Ashley Climaldi has utilized her skills to save the lives of others both on duty and off.
Philadelphia native, Climaldi is stationed at Coast Guard Stations Cape May and Townsend Inlet where her role as an emergency medical technician has afforded her the skills necessary to save the lives of five people, including a 3-year-old girl.
On June 19, 2007, Climaldi was a member of a rescue boat crew responding to a report of a capsized boat in Ingram Thorofare. The boat crew arrived on scene, and Climaldi assisted in pulling three people from the water.
Later that same day, the rescue crew went to a nearby, seaside restaurant to eat lunch, and Climaldi put her training to use once again in order to save a 3-year-old girl’s life.
"While we were eating, there was a family behind us," Climaldi said. "They seemed real happy. They had a little girl with them, and she was putting makeup on her grandmother. She was so cute.
"We continued eating and the girl started choking on something. The grandmother was patting her on the back, and then the girl stopped coughing. It was scary to see a little girl, a little tiny person, not breathing. I rushed over to her, and I didn't want to be mean, but I pushed the grandmother out of the way.
“I lifted the girl's arms up in the air and jerked her up about three times and the piece of food just came out. I didn't even have to get that far into the Heimlich maneuver. Once she started breathing again she started to cry. Everyone in the restaurant, including the family, was just staring at me.
“The entire place was just silent. After a few minutes the little girl ran up to me and started hugging me. It was like she knew. Then she went back to eating her chicken fingers," Climaldi stated.
A few days later, the station crew responded to a report of a drowning victim at Avalon Pointe Marina in Avalon Manor. When the rescue crew arrived, they discovered a man face down in the water near his boat.
"When we got there, the guy was in between the boat's transom and the engine," Climaldi said.
"He had a pulse but he wasn't breathing. I could tell he had drowned. He was completely blue in color, and his hands were white. I could tell he hadn't had oxygen in a long time. Another crew member and I pulled the man out of the water and placed him on the deck of the boat.
“It was probably the jolt of being moved, but he started to spit up water. After that, he started to breathe shallow breaths, and all I could think to myself was, 'Come on, just keep breathing.'” She stated.
“After a while, he started to cough up a lot of water, his breathing got better and the color started to return to his face. When he started talking he didn't make much sense and he kept trying to fight everyone because he had been without oxygen for so long. He kept calling everyone Mom - he called me Patty. He was totally delirious, but I was just happy he was screaming because it meant he was breathing."
It was later learned the man Climaldi helped rescue that day was a captain in the Camden (N.J.) Police Department and because of Climaldi's actions, he was able to make a full recovery without any brain damage.
Nearly nine months later on March 1, Climaldi found herself in yet another situation where her skills as an EMT would save the life of an elderly gentleman when the man began to choke on a piece of food while she was dining at a restaurant in her hometown of Philadelphia.
While others in the restaurant remained motionless and shocked, Climaldi once again came to the aid of another and successfully performed the Heimlich maneuver. The food was dislodged, and the man made a full recovery.
"Petty Officer Climaldi is one of those people who would run into a burning building to save someone," said Lt. Mark Pesnell, officer in charge of Coast Guard Station Cape May. "She has the ability to think clearly in times of intense stress."
Climaldi says saving lives is just a part of her job, but her advanced training as an EMT was an opportunity that didn't come quickly or easy.
"From the first day I joined the Coast Guard, I wanted to take advantage of the EMT program. It costs a lot of money to send someone to the school, so for the first year I was here, I begged my chain of command to let me go to school. They didn't let me go right away, and now I understand why they didn't - I had a lot of other things I needed to complete first, like becoming boat crew qualified. After about a year, when I had everything completed, I asked again, and they let me go to EMT school."
Since her time in the Coast Guard, Climaldi has responded to 11 search and rescue cases, saving a total of five lives and assisting 24 others.
Climaldi was named the Coast Guard Member of the Year in 2007 by the USO of Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey, and her accomplishments have earned her a commendation medal by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Like Idawalley Zorada Lewis, a lighthouse keeper credited with saving 18 lives, Climaldi's lifesaving actions exemplify the Coast Guard's core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty.
By Petty Officer 1st Class NyxoLyno Cangemi---2008
Coast Guard EMT's Skills Save Three Lives.
COAST GUARD GREAT LAKES BOARDINGS GO RETRO: 1790s-STYLE
aking a queue from history, the Ninth Coast Guard District is altering course when it comes to boarding commercial and recreational vessels this coming season. On June 4, 1791, the first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, issued a letter of instruction to the commanding officers of the first 10 cutters of the fledgling Revenue Marine, precursor of today's U.S. Coast Guard. Hamilton's words defined these commanding officers as servants of the people; the very people over whom they would exercise broad enforcement authority. Responding to a perception of increased heavy-handedness since 9-11, the Ninth Coast Guard District is reinforcing a philosophy of, "respecting the mariner," among its front line personnel who patrol the Great Lakes. Hamilton conveyed the idea that American citizens do not appreciate intrusive government. This continues to be the case. As it was 217 years ago, professionalism and restraint are crucial to successfully carrying out the Coast Guard's duties. To read the complete article concerning the Ninth Coast Guard District's boarding program on the Great Lakes, please click here: "Hamilton's Spirit Lives on in Coast Guard Boarding Program." SOURCE: U.S.C.G.
To the Great Lakes boating community:
05-2008 This year, May 17th marks the 50th Anniversary of National Safe Boating Week, a week-long observance designed to raise awareness of safe boating practices among power and sail boaters, paddlers and anglers. In recognition of this important week, I want to share a few of my thoughts about how boaters can "Boat Responsibly" and help make the 2008 boating season safe for themselves, their families and those who share our waterways.
The Great Lakes region is home to more registered recreational boats than any other part of the country. Within the region's eight states, there are approximately 4.6 million registered boats, 800,000 in our 86 shoreline counties, alone. In addition, there are about another 1.2 million registered boats within the Province of Ontario.
Despite the number of boats, the good news is that recreational boating on the Great Lakes is a very safe activity. Annual recreational boating statistics support this positive note. And it's the U.S. Coast Guard's responsibility, as well as that of our state and local boating safety partners, to ensure the continued safety of all waterways users. It's a big job, to be sure, but one made far easier by boaters who choose to "Boat Responsibly." So, what are some of the ways boaters can "Boat Responsibly" this year?
First, before heading out on the water, brush up on boating safety regulations, as well as the Rules of the Road. If there are no traditional boating classes being offered in the area, explore free basic boating courses available online. Make a visit to the local library to check-out books on boating and boat handling. These can be a great refresher.
Next, time should be set aside to inspect the boat, top to bottom, stem to stern. Are the lifejackets in good condition? Are visual distress signals on board? Where are all the controls? Where is the emergency shut-off valve for the fuel supply? As an added measure of safety, a free Vessel Safety Check (VSC) is an excellent way to get reacquainted with a vessel and its gear following a seasonal lay-up. During a VSC, an examiner from the Coast Guard Auxiliary or local U.S. Power Squadron goes over a check-list of safety equipment required under federal and state law. The boater accompanies and assists the examiner, laying hands on every item indicated on the check-list. If there are any deficiencies, there is no penalty. The boater merely corrects whatever is wrong before being issued a VSC sticker and getting underway. To find out more about the VSC program or locate a local VSC examiner, visit the web at: http://www.vesselsafetycheck.org/.
Once a boater launches for the first time in a season, it's time for a shake-down cruise. Unlike boating in warmer climates, Great Lakes boaters are limited to a three to five month season. During the off-season, boaters' skills get rusty. Although one may not forget how to drive a boat, proficiency is degraded until there's an opportunity to exercise those skills again.
Upon launching for the first time, a boater should take it slowly. Rediscover the handling characteristics of the vessel and how it reacts to changing sea conditions. How quickly does the vessel react when changing course? How quickly does the vessel come about, should someone fall over board? These are things which must be exercised each and every season to ensure one is truly in command of their vessel.
Practice docking. It sounds simple. However, docking a vessel is, perhaps, one of the most difficult evolutions one will ever experience while boating. Docking occurs in a relatively confined area and is influenced by the handling characteristics of the vessel, the direction of the wind, existing current, and the tidal action created by other vessels in the vicinity. Again, take it slowly. There is no prize for docking quickly. The key is to dock the vessel as safely as possible.
Another preventive measure boaters can take is ensuring they are sober when operating a vessel. Drinking has long been a part of the boating culture. Vessel names such as "Last Call," "Happy Hour," "High Ball," "Booze Cruise" are still common and reinforce an acceptance of this cultural behavior. Unlike driving an automobile, drinking and boating is not illegal. However, operating a vessel under the influence is illegal. Each year, hundreds of boating accidents result in serious injury and death, due to impairment by alcohol. Simply don't drink if you are operating a vessel. And remember, boating is a team sport - a conscientious mariner watches out for those aboard their vessel, as well.
The Coast Guard, as well as our marine patrol partners, are often criticized for cracking down on those who boat under the influence. In these boaters' minds, we're taking the fun out of the sport. Owners of waterfront establishments sometimes complain too, fearful business will be driven away. Nothing could be further from the truth. Our job is to ensure safety, period. Boaters under the influence are not safe. They present a risk to everyone on the water and our job is to eliminate that risk.
Lastly, boaters can help themselves by helping us protect our Nation through America's Waterways Watch (AWW). Managed by the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and in partnership with the U.S. Power Squadrons and state boating programs, AWW is similar to a neighborhood watch program. Since the Coast Guard and local law enforcement cannot be everywhere, we rely on the boating public to report any activity on the water that they feel may be suspicious or illegal.
During this 50th National Safe Boating Week local Coast Guard units and Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotillas will be hosting boating safety open house events. Many of these events are listed on the web at: http://www.safeboatingcampaign.com/events/events.htm. The Coast Guard is committed to making the Great Lakes as safe as possible for the boating public. I ask the boating public to share that commitment by pledging, now and always, to "Boat Responsibly."
Sincerely,
JOHN E. CROWLEY, JR.
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard
Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District
"Boater Responsibily"
Coast Guard Helicopter Goes Down Killing
4 Brave Crew Members
September 04, 2008 USCG Rear Admiral Manson Brown told the Honolulu Advertiser three of the Dolphin's four-man crew were killed when the helo impacted the water six miles off Sand Island, during a "routine" mock search-and-rescue exercise. The accident occurred at approximately 8:15 pm.
Three crewmembers were recovered from the water by the Honolulu Fire Department, and transported to Queens Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead. A fourth crewmember remains missing as of Friday morning.
The tragedy marks the first major downing of one of the Coast Guards its rescue Helicopters in over 25 years.
Three of the Four crew members bodies were recovered by Crews onboard a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III and Coast Guard lifeboat were in the area at the time of the accident, and saw the Dolphin go down.
The Co-pilot Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Wischmeier, Rescue Swimmer Petty Officer 1st Class David Skimin and Flight mechanic Petty Officer 2nd Class Joshua Nicols died when their HH-65 Dolphin helicopter crashed.
The U.S. Coast Guard along with the U.S. Navy continued to Search for the Pilot of the ill fated chopper. The name and rank is being held by of the missing Pilot has yet to be released by the Coast Guard.
Dave's EMS Headquarters exteneds it's deepest sympathy to the Families of the brave hero's.
The United States Coast Guard held a Memorial Service for the FOUR Brave lost Crew on September 4 2008
9-12-2008 About 1,500 people attended a memorial service today for the crew of a Coast Guard helicopter that crashed last Friday. The service, at Air Station Barbers Point, was for three men killed and one missing from a HH-65 helicopter that crashed during a training mission south of Honolulu International Airport.
Two helicopters did a "missing man" flyover during today's service. One also flew over the crash site to lay a wreath in the water. Both helicopters are Hawai'i-based but were flown by air crews from Alaska and San Francisco.
Coast Guard Flyover with missing man formation (click picture to enlarge)
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Milwaukee Station Takes Receipt of Swift Boat
11-04-2008 The Coast Guard station in Milwaukee is getting a sleeker, faster boat to use for search-and-rescue efforts.
One of the first Response Boat-Mediums that recently rolled off the assembly line arrived this week in Milwaukee. The $2.5 million, 45-foot-long boat will replace the Coast Guard’s 41-foot response boats here and in other parts of the country.
The Coast Guard contract for 180 Response Boat-Mediums will be split between Marinette Marine Corp. and Kvichak Marine Industries in Kent, Wash. The first 10 boats are being constructed by Kvichak while Marinette Marine, which is ramping up for construction at its Green Bay facility, is scheduled to build the 11th and 12th.
Continued construction after the first dozen boats are completed is contingent upon testing. Assembly takes eight weeks.
The first three boats were delivered to Coast Guard stations in Oregon, Virginia and Florida, and Wisconsin’s was delivered this week. The Response Boat-Medium being tested on Lake Michigan will be the only one in the Great Lakes region so testing can be done in varying weather conditions, said Milwaukee Station Coast Guard Cmdr. Joe Malinauskas.
“We’re very excited to get it. It’s packed with new technology and new capability we’re looking to use on Lake Michigan,” said Malinauskas.
The Response Boat-Medium will replace 25-year-old utility boats that are being phased out because of escalating maintenance costs. The new boats feature better electronics, more speed and power and more crew comforts such as heat, air conditioning and more seating, said Bryan Martin, field crew coordinator for Kvichak Marine Industries.
Coast Guard's newest boat debuts at Station Milwaukee
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lake Michigan will host a media day on Wednesday, at 10:00 a.m., to provide the opportunity for an up-close look at the Coast Guard's newest surface asset, the Response Boat-Medium (RB-M).
The RB-M is a self-righting, 45-foot all-aluminum boat with twin diesel engines and water jet propulsion. The media will have an opportunity to learn about and ride the new boat.
"We're proud to be the first Great Lakes unit to receive this highly capable new asset. The Coast Guard has a long history of service in Wisconsin, and the RB-M increases our capabilities to serve the boating public, and work with all our local, state, federal and private sector partners," said commander of Sector Lake Michigan, Capt. Bruce Jones.
Media interested in attending should contact Cmdr. Tracy Wannamaker at (414) 747-7183, or email at tracy.j.wannamaker@uscg.mil. Appropriate dress for the weather is encouraged.
Coast Guard Station Milwaukee, who has continuously served area mariners since it was commissioned as U. S. Lifesaving Station Number 10 in 1878, will receive the boat.
In 2006, the Coast Guard awarded a contract for up to 250 RB-Ms to Marinette Marine Corporation (MMC) of Marinette, Wis. RB-Ms are now being built by Kvichak Marine (a subcontractor of MMC) in Kent, Wash. To increase production, MMC has initiated the opening of a second production facility in Green Bay, Wisc.
Station Milwaukee's RB-M is the fourth to be delivered to the Coast Guard. Milwaukee was selected based on its wide range of missions, high operational tempo, and opportunity to test the boat in the full range of environmental conditions.
Designed to be multi-mission, the RB-M will operate around the country in coastal zones including shore, inland waterways and open ocean out to 50 nautical miles.
The RB-M will replace the aging 41-foot utility boats, which have been the workhorse of Coast Guard boat stations for more than a quarter of a century.
Improvements which the RB-M provides include a full cabin providing protection from the elements, a robust navigation system, heating and air conditioning, shock mitigating seats, and a communication system capable of communicating with other federal, state and local agencies.
Coast Guard Station Milwaukee provides Search and Rescue, Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Marine Environmental Protection and other missions in an 884 square mile area stretching from Wind Point, WI to just South of Port Washington, Wis., along 34 nautical miles of shoreline and out to the center of Lake Michigan.
In a typical year, according to the station's officer-in-charge, Senior Chief Chris Purdy, the 22-man crew responds to 125 search and rescue missions, and enforces dozens of safety and security zones for special events along the waterfront.
The Station works closely with the volunteer Coast Guard Auxiliary, the Milwaukee Police Department Harbor Patrol, the Milwaukee Fire Department marine unit, the Wisconsin DNR, and other local law enforcement agencies.
"The RB-M brings a whole new level of technology to the Coast Guard's fleet of small boats," said Senior Chief Purdy. "I believe the RB-M will enable Coast Guard men and women to do their jobs more efficiently and more safely."
Have You Forgotten
By: Darryl Worley
July 3, 2009
The U.S. Coast Guard, Ohio state and local agencies respond to several hundred people stranded on ice floe off of Locust Point
Cleveland 02-07-2009 The U.S. Coast Guard, and multiple state and local agencies are attempting to rescue several hundred people stranded on an ice floe in western Lake Erie near Oak Harbor, Ohio. Cleveland 02-07-2009 The U.S. Coast Guard, and multiple state and local agencies are attempting to rescue several hundred people stranded on an ice floe in western Lake Erie near Oak Harbor, Ohio.
Approximately 150 people were reported to be on the ice flow. The call for help came into the Coast Guard at approximately 10:45 a.m.
Responding agencies included: U.S. Coast Guard Air Stations Detroit, Traverse City, Mich., and Elizabeth City, N.C.; U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw, U.S. Coast Guard Stations Toledo, Ohio, Belle Isle, Mich., St. Clair Shores, Mich., and Marblehead, Ohio; Canadian Coast Guard; Ohio State Patrol, Monroe County Sheriff; Jervis, Carol and Washington Townships; Toledo Lifeflight.
Coast Guard Cmdr. Keith Willis, age 44, a 20-year veteran of the United States Coast Guard, was the commander of the Tahoma, which was homeported at the Kittery yard. Was Found dead in his Cabin Sunday February 15, 2009. Cmdr. Willis died in his sleep of natural causes. The Tahoma, with a crew of 100, had returned to its homeport Jan. 28, 2009, after a deployment off New England, where it conducted various law enforcement and marine safety missions.
Coast Guardsman decorated for diving into frigid Sound to save man
On a cool evening in early summer last year, Truman Skang had been enjoying a lazy stroll with friends along the Des Moines waterfront on a rare day off from his Coast Guard job, when tragedy unfolded before his eyes. Nearby, an elderly motorist mistaking the gas pedal for the brake stepped hard on his accelerator, and the car sped out of control. It plowed through a guardrail and hurtled some 50 feet off a sea wall into Puget Sound. With the two occupants and a dog trapped inside the sinking car, dozens of bystanders looked on, frozen in horror. Meanwhile, Skang — with help from a few others at the Des Moines Marina that day — "just reacted," he said. "I just kind of went for it," said the wiry 30-year-old, an electrician's mate first class. "I really didn't have a chance to feel scared — till after it was all over." Skang dove off a pier after the sinking car and ultimately pulled a 76-year-old man to safety from the cold waters before chill and fatigue overcame him. Though the man's friend, an 86-year-old woman, and her dog died in the accident, Skang's actions spared the man's life.
For Skang's act of courage on June 20, 2008, the U.S. Coast Guard today awarded him one of its highest and rarest honors: the Silver Lifesaving Citation. "In my 33 years in the Coast Guard, I've only awarded two of these," Rear Adm. John Currier told a crowd of about 200 at Sector Seattle headquarters. "So, we do not give them up routinely."
Currier commands the Coast Guard's 13th District, which includes the West Coast. While reading the citation aloud, Capt. Suzanne Engleberg, Seattle Sector commander, noted Skang "immediately jumped into the 52-degree water, risking hypothermia." He also suffered a cut, requiring stitches to his elbow, while trying to remove a shattered windshield. Skang then managed to make his way to the driver's-side window of the sinking car and pull out the driver. He attempted several more dives but was unable to save the woman or dog. Skang's "unselfish actions and valiant service, despite imminent personal danger, reflect great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of humanitarian service," Engelberg said. On hand for the brief ceremony were Skang's parents, Katsushi and Hilde Skang, who traveled from the family's home in Palau, an island nation near the Philippines. It took the couple 24 hours and a five-leg flight to arrive for their first visit to Seattle, they said.
With Skang's fiancé, Mia Kuartei, translating for him, Skang's father — a champion competitive swimmer and renowned fisherman in his country — said his son's actions were courageous but not unexpected. "It's something I've also had to do throughout my life — rescuing others," he said. "I'm very proud he was able to do it." Swimming is something that comes naturally to him and his countrymen, Skang said. "The first thing you do back home is learn how to swim," he said. He added that he only wished he could've done more to help the car's occupants. "That wasn't the problem. It was the temperature of the water that was the problem that day." The four others who helped Skang during his rescue efforts — all civilians — will also be honored by the Coast Guard during a forthcoming ceremony, said Lt. John Hanley, a spokesman.
Coast Guard’s Operation Dry Water Underway
Great Lakes 07-03-09 The Coast Guard and Local City and State Law enforcement has been on the look-out for drunken boaters this Fourth of July weekend. They will be cracking down on intoxicated boaters.
Chief Petty Officer Matthew Draper of the Coast Guard advised boaters to use caution when out on the water, and keep safety in mind.
The state of Wisconsin's DNR records showed that 35 percent of their boating fatalities in 2008, involved the use of alcohol and drugs.
Chief Petty Officer Matthew Draper states that “If you're going to be out there drinking on your boat, have a sober operator. That is the best insurance you can have,” Draper said. “And have all your life jackets onboard.”
Operation Dry Water will continue on all public lakes and rivers, including the Great Lakes.
Penalties for impaired boating range from a fine to jail time.
