The Real ResQ Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Episode 116 PJ Ornot USCG RS 514 Nov 29, 2022

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by PJ Ornot, USCG Rescue Swimmer 514. Before we even set up our conversation, I asked PJ to send me a few of his awards, letters, news clippings, and whatever else he might have that we can talk about. Next thing I know, I have an inbox with twenty eight attachments. After reviewing everything he sent me, we decided we would talk about seven of his rescues. These include rescues that earned him two Letters of Commendation, two Achievement Medals, a Commendation Medal, and two Air Medals. Each of them with their own unique rescue story. Enjoy!

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Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ;

Breeze-Eastern, https://www.breeze-eastern.com/

Axnes, https://www.axnes.com/

SR3 Rescue Concepts, https://sr3rescueconcepts.com

Airwaav, https://airwaav.com/

VersaLifts https://vlifts.com/

Episode 115 Rob Munday 2.0 Hoist Operator and Instructor for SR3 Rescue Concepts Nov 23, 2022

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined again by Rob Munday, Hoist Operator. During our conversation, we go over a few of Rob’s more recent rescue calls. He walks us through four different callouts, two cliff rescues, an injured hiker rescue and a recovery. All four hoists were 160+ feet of cable to get victims out of their precarious positions. After hearing about the rescues, we discuss training, equipment and a few other things with regards to helicopter rescue. Enjoy!

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Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ;

Breeze-Eastern, https://www.breeze-eastern.com/

Axnes, https://www.axnes.com/

SR3 Rescue Concepts, https://sr3rescueconcepts.com

Airwaav, https://airwaav.com/

VersaLifts https://vlifts.com/

ASTerisk - EURORSA Rescue Swimmer Meeting Cascais Portugal 2022 Debrief Nov 18, 2022

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by board members of The Rescue Swimmer Association. We get to debrief an incredible meeting of rescue swimmers from around the world. With 22 countries represented and over 150 members meeting in Cascais, Portugal for RSM22! We recap four days of events and lectures concerning all things rescue swimmer related. It was early morning and late nights! Enjoy!

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Thank you to those that support The Rescue Swimmer Association

EURORSA https://eurorsa.com/

Portuguese Airforce, https://www.emfa.pt/

Lifesaving Systems Corp. https://lifesavingsystems.com/

Leonardo Helicopters https://www.leonardo.com/

Liteflite, https://www.lite-flite.aero/

Ursuit, https://www.ursuit.com/

The City of Cascais, https://www.visitcascais.com/en

Collins Aerospace, Goodrich hoist & Winch, http://www.collinsaerospace.com/

Axnes, https://www.axnes.com/

Air Med & Rescue, https://www.airmedandrescue.com/welcome

IWCS, https://iwcs.org/

Cressi, https://www.cressi.com/

CHC Helicopters, https://www.chcheli.com/

Helisafe, https://helisafe.se/

Global Sys, https://global-sys.com/home

Airsafe, https://www.airsafe.se/en/

Episode 114 Shane Rothlisberger Nov 13, 2022

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Shane Rothlisberger, owner of VersaLifts. He has an amazing story about following a calling that God had placed on his and his wife’s heart. Shane walks us through a heartwarming story about what it took to not only rescue, but adopt two children from the country of Central African Republic. These two children became orphans as toddlers when their parents were killed. With a country in a bit of chaos, Shane and his wife took a leap of faith to go help these children in need. With new additions to their family, Shane says, “it’s those kids who rescued us.” Enjoy!

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Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ;

Breeze-Eastern, https://www.breeze-eastern.com/

Axnes, https://www.axnes.com/

SR3 Rescue Concepts, https://sr3rescueconcepts.com

VersaLifts https://vlifts.com/

ASTerisk - US Navy Debrief TARPON Springs SAR Exercise Nov 07, 2022

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by US Navy sailors, Todd Coulard, Rescue Swimmer, Cory Hedges, Rescue Swimmer, and Ryan Honnoll, Corpsman. We get a rare chance to debrief a mass casualty training exercise that was conducted just one week prior to recording this conversation. These guys set up an amazing scenario to try and mimic a multitude of types of rescue. With a vague brief to the crews, they were launched out for the SAR call. The scenario was set up where the crews had to complete some precision hoisting to land, hoist rescue from a ship, rescue people in the water, deal with immediate medical care, and plan for getting to advanced medical care. After they talked through the whole scenario, we debriefed the event from beginning to end. We talked about lessons they learned, things that would change, and what can make it better. Enjoy!

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https://www.facebook.com/therealresq

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Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ;

Breeze-Eastern, https://www.breeze-eastern.com/

Axnes, https://www.axnes.com/

SR3 Rescue Concepts, https://sr3rescueconcepts.com

VersaLifts https://vlifts.com/

Episode 113 Dan Leary USCG Pilot Oct 31, 2022

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Dan Leary, USCG Pilot. Dan and I recap some of his memorable moments as a pilot in the US Coast Guard. His first rescue was out of Traverse City, Michigan for a jet skier who ran out of gas after trying to cross one of the Great Lakes. Or as he would say, it was a rescue call where “we [were] just a speed bump to the process of evolution.” He also remembers a rescue while he was on deployment to the Caribbean where someone had fallen about 80 feet off of a cruise ship and left floating in the water. While Dan was in Alaska, he had a couple of rescues. The first Alaska rescue was in about 40’ waves and 50-60 knot winds for an injured crewman who was hit in the face by a large line that had snapped. Another rescue Dan talks about revolved around him helping with the F/V Galaxy incident. He and his crew were there searching for those who were still missing that day. At his next unit in Port Angeles, Washington, he was launched out on a medevac for a guy with a broken leg on the side of Brothers Mountain, 6300 feet up. His career took him to the aviation school in Elizabeth City, NC. While there, it began a path that led him to what he is doing now. Enjoy!

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https://www.facebook.com/therealresq

https://www.instagram.com/therealresq

Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ;

Breeze-Eastern, https://www.breeze-eastern.com/

Axnes, https://www.axnes.com/

SR3 Rescue Concepts, https://sr3rescueconcepts.com

Airwaav, https://airwaav.com/

Northwest Athletic Performance https://www.nwathleticperformance.com/

Episode 112 Bradley Pigage USCG RS 646 Oct 25, 2022

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Bradley Pigage USCG RS 646. Brad and I get to review some of the rescues that stood out to him. He tells us about his first rescue where he was launched out for a capsized catamaran and one guy in the water. After that, we get into the awards that he has earned, which include the Coast Guard Achievement Medal out of Kodiak, Alaska for two hunters in distress; two separate Coast Guard Commendation Medals, one was out of Houston, TX and the other out of Elizabeth City, NC. His first was for an elderly man who was last seen ten days prior to their launch. In this same rescue, the crew earned the Naval Helicopter Association (NHA) Aircrew of the year. His second CG Commendation Medal earned was for a deployment over to Scranton, PA for flood operations. He also earned an Air Medal out of Elizabeth City, NC for a sailing vessel 280 nautical miles that was severely damaged and three people were in distress. Brad and I finished our conversation with a great debrief. Enjoy!

https://therealresq.com/home

https://www.facebook.com/therealresq

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Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ;

Breeze-Eastern, https://www.breeze-eastern.com/

Axnes, https://www.axnes.com/

SR3 Rescue Concepts, https://sr3rescueconcepts.com

VersaLifts https://vlifts.com/

Episode 111 Kendall Garran USCG Pilot Oct 19, 2022

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Kendall Garran, USCG Pilot. Kendall and I got the opportunity to reconnect as well as go over some of her very memorable rescues. It just so happens that she and I were on the F/V Galaxy rescue together. We recap that crazy night and Kendall gives her version of the story. Before we get into that though, we go over quite a few memorable moments of her career. These stories involve her first rescue off of a cruise ship. She also discusses her involvement in the search for JFK Jr. after his plane went missing. Kendall met President George W. Bush after a rescue where five people were rescued from a vessel that was sinking right out from under them. On a tougher note, she revisits the difficult search for one of our own after a CG C130 had a mid-air collision with a Marine helicopter. We end with Kendall giving us further perspective of what other officer duties she was involved with outside of flying. Enjoy!

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https://www.facebook.com/therealresq

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Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ;

Breeze-Eastern, https://www.breeze-eastern.com/

Axnes, https://www.axnes.com/

SR3 Rescue Concepts, https://sr3rescueconcepts.com

VersaLifts https://vlifts.com/

Episode 110 Adrian ”Nick” O’hara Irish Coast Guard Winch Operator and Winchman Oct 13, 2022

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Adrian “Nick” O’Hara, winchman and winch operator for The Irish Coast Guard. Nick and I get deep into some of his rescues that he’s had throughout his career. His first memorable rescue was a fisherman stuck on the rocks in the middle of a river. Other rescue teams were present and had tied ropes to the man from both sides of the river. The next rescue we discussed was an injured mariner on a vessel in 8 meter (24 ft) waves. When the crew went to hoist the victim and the winchman off the boat, a bad swing caused the cable to break and they both ended up in the water. Another rescue we talked about was when he was called out to help seven fishermen on a sinking vessel. He and his crew saved all seven on board. This rescue earned him, specifically, The National Bravery Award. We finished our conversation discussing an incident that he went through involving a spin under the aircraft. This incident came back to haunt him later in his career. With his self awareness and peer support, he was able to confront the issue and beat it. Enjoy!

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https://www.facebook.com/therealresq

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Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ;

Breeze-Eastern, https://www.breeze-eastern.com/

Axnes, https://www.axnes.com/

SR3 Rescue Concepts, https://sr3rescueconcepts.com

Airwaav, https://airwaav.com/

Episode 109 Ian Heikkila Hoist Operator Oct 06, 2022

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In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Ian Heikkila, USCG Flight Mech/Hoist Operator. Ian and I reconnected again since working together in Humboldt Bay, CA., with the USCG. Ian talks about when he came into the USCG and his first unit on a buoy tender, in Cordova, AK. He had his very first rescue on that boat, which took 48 hours to even get on scene. While stationed on the buoy tender, he was sent out for work task via helicopter which was then diverted for a SAR call. From that point on, Ian was going to be an aviator! After a couple years in Humboldt, CA, he was on his way out of the USCG when he ended up in New Orleans for Hurricane Katrina. A slight change of plans from that event kept Ian in the USCG for a few more years and quite a few more rescues. He recaps some of those rescues with us. Since then, Ian has moved on to Columbia Helicopters flying on a Vertol 107, logging, firefighting, and now, hoist rescue. Enjoy!

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Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ;

Breeze-Eastern, https://www.breeze-eastern.com/

Axnes, https://www.axnes.com/

SR3 Rescue Concepts, https://sr3rescueconcepts.com

Airwaav, https://airwaav.com/