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The Real ResQ is the ultimate podcast for inspiring stories of everyday heroes who risk their lives ”so others may live.” Join experienced Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer #500, Jason Quinn, and guests from around the world as they share firsthand accounts of high-pressure situations and the bravery required to navigate them. From the simple standard medevac to the dark and stormy night rescues, they are entertaining and fun to listen to. Each episode is packed with riveting stories, insightful interviews, and expert analysis, giving you an immersive experience that will leave you on the edge of your seat. Here, we go behind the scenes of these amazing rescues. We get an inside look and listen to all the good and the bad of these everyday heroes. Whether you’re a first responder or simply fascinated by the world of rescue work, ”The Real ResQ” is a must-listen. Subscribe now and join us on this unforgettable journey of courage, heroism, and hope.
Episodes
24 hours ago
24 hours ago
In Part 1 of this two-part episode, host Jason Quinn of The Real ResQ is joined by Jason Ramos, a retired firefighter, smoke jumper, author of Smokejumper, and so much more.
Ramos shares his experiences and insights. He discusses his background, including his various roles in the fire service. Ramos recalls his early days as a volunteer firefighter and the intense and challenging calls he responded to. Additionally, he shares stories of memorable calls that left a lasting impression on him.
Next we talk a little bit about the training and delve into the challenges to become a smokejumper. Ramos shares his experiences during his first job, jumping into an area with a bunch of rocks all over the field. This is where it all began for him and his crew as they battled the fire for the next couple days.
We divert a bit into a few other topics where Ramos discusses different scenarios on scene, such as, “What happens if you land in a tree?” or, “What happens if you have an injury when you are in a scene?” In addition, we get an insider look into a few extra skills that smokejumpers learn. Enjoy!
This episode is powered by Vertical Helicasts.
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7 days ago
7 days ago
In this episode of The Real ResQ, host Jason Quinn is joined by Thomas “Buck” Beaudry, U. S. Coast Guard (USCG) Rescue Swimmer 175.
At a young age, Beaudry planned to be a firefighter like his brother. However, as life seems to go, his path changed when he failed one of the tests. This became “a blessing in disguise,” as it led him to joining the Coast Guard and becoming a rescue swimmer.
Throughout this conversation, they talk about his amazing 29 year career in the USCG, including his first rescue: A medevac off of a large Japanese ship that was 300 miles off shore. Then they get into more of his rescue stories that earned him an Achievement Medal for multiple rescues that occurred over a short period of time in Cape Cod. He received a Coast Guard Commendation Medal for a man stuck on a barge in big seas and 80-knot winds. Next, they get into his Air Medal case, where he worked with another swimmer to rescue six people in 20-foot seas and 40-knot winds. Lastly, they get into the emotional rescue of a father and son who were in the water due to their canoe flipping over. Following the rescue, the crew went to visit the family in the hospital and received a letter from the family thanking them. Enjoy!
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Saturday Mar 16, 2024
Episode 174 [Part 2] Phillip Powell USCG Flight Mech
Saturday Mar 16, 2024
Saturday Mar 16, 2024
In Part 2 of this two-part episode, host Jason Quinn of The Real ResQ is joined by retired U.S. Coast Guard flight mechanic Phillip Powell. Powell continues to share his experiences and challenges in hoisting and rescuing people during his time in the Coast Guard.
Powell also talks about Internal Communications Systems (ICS) failure and the ICS boots he developed to prevent water intrusion. He recounts his experience during Hurricane Harvey and the challenges the Coast Guard faced in conducting search-and-rescue operations.
Powell discusses various aspects of helicopter rescue operations. He emphasizes the responsibility of the flight mechanic in ensuring the wellbeing of Coast Guard swimmers, and the importance of continuous learning and adaptation in the field. Overall, the conversation provides valuable insights into the challenges and best practices of helicopter rescue operations. Enjoy!
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Friday Mar 15, 2024
Episode 174 [Part 1] Phillip Powell USCG Flight Mech
Friday Mar 15, 2024
Friday Mar 15, 2024
In Part 1 of this two-part episode, host Jason Quinn of The Real ResQ is joined by retired U.S. Coast Guard flight mechanic Phillip Powell. Powell shares his experiences and challenges in hoisting and rescuing people during his time in the Coast Guard. He recounts memorable rescues in Savannah, Georgia, and during Hurricane Katrina.
Powell also talks about his very first rescue, where six people were stuck in a boat in the mud. Then he shares a few more memorable rescues, including two people rescued off of a sailboat and another of a man having chest pain who needed to be hoisted off a boat. Powell details a few more of his experiences in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
In addition, Powell discusses his experience as part of the Coast Guard Standardization Team (STAN Team) and the Advanced Helicopter Rescue School (AHRS), and shares a harrowing hoist runaway incident and speaks about the importance of proper hoist procedures. Enjoy!
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Sunday Mar 10, 2024
Sunday Mar 10, 2024
In this episode of The Real ResQ Podcast, host Jason Quinn is live in the Vertical Booth at HAI Heli Expo 2024 with Jason Segal, Paramedic, Hoist Operator and Rescue Specialist. Segal grew up in the Los Angeles area, where he got his first taste of emergency response from his father who was a firefighter medic. This influence paved the path for Segal's journey into becoming a paramedic, marking the beginning of an extraordinary career in rescue operations.
Segal's first patient was a diver who came up a little too fast and was required to be put into the decompression chamber. From there, Segal tells us a bunch of stories that stand out to him, including working with Lenny Cunningham in Louisiana on a call out for a motor vehicle crash. Transitioning to the arid landscape of El Paso, Texas, Segal recounts a daring rescue operation involving the hoisting of a victim who had fallen over 100 feet. Another rescue that stands out was when he was teaching and the agency asked him to help with the hoist recovery of a victim with a broken back.
As the conversation draws to a close, Segal provides insights into his current endeavors, collaborating with Vita Inclinada, and sheds light on the advancements made in their VRS system. He concludes with a reminder of the significance of "teachable moments," encapsulating the essence of continuous learning and growth in the realm of rescue operations. Enjoy!
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Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:
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Wednesday Feb 28, 2024
Episode 172 San Diego Fire Department - Live at HAI Heli Expo 2024 Vertical Booth
Wednesday Feb 28, 2024
Wednesday Feb 28, 2024
On this episode of The Real ResQ Podcast, we join the San Diego Fire Department live at HAI Heli Expo 2024. Featuring Tim Olson - Helicopter Rescue Medic (HRM), Captain Paul Shuttleworth - Crew Chief and Deke McClintock - Pilot.
These three guys sat down with me to tell a couple of their most memorable rescue stories. Olson recalls his first rescue as a 14 year old where a car crashed into a fountain. Shuttleworth then shares a story from his experience battling a large fire, while McClintock recounts his first rescue as a Pilot In Command (PIC).
We continue with a story where Shuttleworth and McClintock responded to a rescue call for a victim hanging over a 100-foot cliff face as night approached. Having to move fast with limited visibility pressing them, a simple question asked over the Axnes system, “Are you good?” and the response, “I’ve got him,” made an emergent rescue both easier and successful.
We close out talking about the Axnes system and the significant benefits it has had to their unit, missions, and better communications for all the crews. Enjoy!
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Wednesday Feb 21, 2024
Wednesday Feb 21, 2024
In this episode of The Real ResQ, host Jason Quinn is joined by Matt Theissen, U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer 502, and one of Theissen’s survivors, Captain Ron Blake. In this episode, we get the in depth story from both perspectives of this incredible rescue, a rescue that earned Thiessen an Air Medal and changed Blake’s life, forever.
Thiessen’s Air Medal:
“The crew launched from Air Station Kodiak in response to a distress signal emanating from a life raft with four survivors from the Fishing Vessel (F/V) Hunter. The vessel iced over, capsized and sank forcing the crew to abandon ship. With gusty 50-knot winds, churning seas and near-zero visibility due to billowing ice fog, Petty Officer Thiessen willingly deployed using a degraded hoist to the survivors below. Rapidly assessing the survivors, he towed the most critical from the raft through the icy water and breaking waves to the rescue basket. With his mask rendered useless by the freezing spray, he was forced to discard it, leaving his face exposed to the harsh elements. During the hour-long rescue, his eyes repeatedly froze shut, requiring him to continuously submerge his face in the arctic water to maintain his vision. At one point, he displayed tremendous physical prowess that demanded several minutes of maximum effort swimming to catch the swiftly drifting raft. Recovering the second survivor proved treacherous as the helicopter cabin had become encrusted with ice.” Enjoy!
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Saturday Feb 17, 2024
Vertical HeliCASTS Mashup: HAI Heli Expo 2024
Saturday Feb 17, 2024
Saturday Feb 17, 2024
In this episode, the three Vertical Helicasts Hosts, Halsey Schider of The Helicopter Podcast, Jon Gray of The Hangar Z Podcast, and Jason Quinn of The Real ResQ discuss their excitement for the upcoming HAI event and the podcast lineups they have planned. They also talk about the networking opportunities and the chance to reconnect with industry colleagues and professionals.
Make sure to come visit the trio at HAI Heli Expo this year! They are at booth 5716, with a 'Meet and Greet' scheduled for Wednesday February 28th from 3-5pm. And if you see any of the hosts walking around the expo, don't hesitate to say hi!
Thursday Feb 15, 2024
Episode 170 [Part 2] Matt Thiessen USCG Rescue Swimmer 502
Thursday Feb 15, 2024
Thursday Feb 15, 2024
In Part 2 of this two-part episode, host Jason Quinn of The Real ResQ is joined by one of his rescue swimmer classmates, Matt Theissen, U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer 502.
We begin Part 2 in Kodiak, Alaska, where Thiessen recounts a few of his rescues. He was sent to evacuate a severely injured crewman suffering from head trauma and multiple seizures, earning him a Coast Guard Commendation Medal. A year later, he earned another Coast Guard Commendation Medal for the similar case of a severely injured crewman with severe head trauma.
Next, we transition to Hawaii, where Thiessen talks about a rescue where he assisted the saving of a $54 million, 186-foot University of Hawaii research vessel taking on water. This case earned him another Achievement Medal.
We continue our conversation by talking about his time in Houston, Texas. Here, Thiessen earned a second Air Medal and a Meritorious Service Medal for his efforts during Hurricane Harvey. He was flying the first day and night and helped save 28 people. Plus, he maintained and organized 75 Coast Guard rescue swimmers and 15 Air Force pararescuemen for the duration of the hurricane response. Enjoy!
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Wednesday Feb 14, 2024
Episode 170 [Part 1] Matt Thiessen USCG Rescue Swimmer 502
Wednesday Feb 14, 2024
Wednesday Feb 14, 2024
In Part 1 of this two-part episode, host Jason Quinn of The Real ResQ is joined by one of his rescue swimmer classmates, Matt Theissen, U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer 502. Theissen joined the Coast Guard because he wanted to surf and follow the waves. This didn't actually happen for him until many years into his career.
After graduating from rescue swimmer school, he went to New Orleans. Instead of talking about his first rescue, we talked about his first “duty” day. That was a busy one. He had several calls that day, his first being for a sailor who fell and injured his back. The second call was for a guy who was coughing up blood on a boat and needed to get to the hospital. His third call was a search for an overdue vessel.
Next, we get into some of Thiessen’s other rescues. One rescue which earned him a Coast Guard Achievement Medal. He assisted another swimmer with 12 injured people in the water. He also speaks about another rescue involving a man who got wrapped up in a winch. The last rescue discussed in Part 1 is about a guy with a terribly broken arm. Enjoy!
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Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:
Breeze-Eastern.Follow The Real ResQ on Facebook and Instagram and listen on Vertical Helicasts.