Press Release Says, Alaska Air National Guard assists in Medical Evacuation of pregnant woman

CAMP DENALI, Alaska— The Alaska Air National Guard performed a medical evacuation of a 38-week pregnant woman from Nanwalek, a small native village near the southern tip of the Kenai Peninsula, to Anchorage Jan 19.

The 29-year-old woman, who was experiencing upper abdominal pains, needed to be taken to a hospital for immediate care. LifeMed contacted the 11^th Rescue Coordination Center at 2:45 p.m. for assistance because civilian air ambulances were unable to conduct the mission.

“The civilian air ambulances were not able to conduct the mission due to the poor weather,” said Capt. Andy Williams, HC-130 navigator, 211^th Rescue Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard. “We’re glad we can help and fulfill significant need within the community.”

The Alaska Air National Guard’s 210^th, 211^th and 212^th Rescue Squadrons responded and arrived on scene at 5:15 p.m. with an HC-130 Hercules, HH-60 Pave Hawk and pararescuemen from the 212^th Rescue Squadron.

The patient was loaded onto the aircraft at 5:30 p.m. and flown to Kulis Air National Guard Base where, upon landing, she was transferred to a civilian ambulance and taken to the Alaska Native Medical Center for treatment.

The Alaska Air National Guard was awarded one save for the mission.