Helicopter Heroism Award Nominations
| United States Park Police Swiftwater Rescue of Fellow First-Responder in Icy Conditions | |
| River Road - Montgomery County, MD - December 23, 2008 | |
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| On December 23, 2008 at approximately 0816 hours, the crew of Eagle 1; Sergeant Kevin Chittick as pilot and Sergeant Jeffrey Hertel as Rescue Technician were dispatched by SYSCOM to the area of River Road and Carderock Springs Drive in Montgomery County, MD for a water main break and several persons trapped within the moving water. Maryland State Police helicopter Trooper 2 had been dispatched to the area as well and having arrived just minutes before Eagle 1 provided the first aerial report on the vehicle and subjects trapped and prioritized response for aerial rescues. Eagle 1’s first rescue response was to the northern most area of the swift moving water where the close proximity of trees and wires demanded constant communications and skillfulness between Sergeant Hertel and Sergeant Chittick to ensure that the aircraft, hoist cable and basket remained free of all obstructions. The result of this expertise saw the Billy Pugh rescue net dropped directly onto the hood of the car for easy access however; the occupant of the vehicle was an elderly female, frozen by fear, refusing to leave her vehicle due to the raging water that surrounded her vehicle. The aerial rescue attempt was aborted and the woman was subsequently rescued by boat manually powered to her location. During this rescue attempt a member of the Montgomery County Swift Water Rescue Team remained with the vehicle as shore based personnel pulled the women to safety. After the two remaining citizens were safely ashore the boat was engulfed by the swift water and could not be used any further. The Montgomery County Swiftwater Rescue Technician began to suffer from exposure to the water, wind and outside air temperatures and attempts at a ground based rescue had all proven unsuccessful. From a staging area near the scene, Eagle 1 was called back to the area to rescue the distressed firefighter. Once over the scene, Sgt. Chittick hovered in challenging winds and Sgt. Hertel maintained constant communications with Sergeant Chittick to ensure that the aircraft remained free from all obstacles. Again, with pinpoint accuracy in highly stressful conditions, the crew lowered the Billy Pugh net to the firefighter. The firefighter was able to pull himself into the net and was quickly and carefully raised to the aircraft. The firefighter was covered in ice and cold, but his quick recovery was due to the rapid response and effective rescue completed by the crew of Eagle 1. Sergeant Chittick and Sergeant Hertel are to be recognized and commended for their actions in this event. While routine training with Montgomery County played a large part in the overall success of this incident it should not be overlooked that the unfavorable weather conditions, media attention, natural obstacles and the reality that human lives were on the line are situations that cannot be duplicated in a training situation and truly define the skills and professionalism of the crew at a time when they are most needed. Sergeant Chittick and Sergeant Hertel’s actions during this event saved a fellow first responder from significant injury and possible death from exposure or being trapped by raging water. | |
