The Real ResQ Podcast

Episode 173 Jason Segal, Paramedic, Hoist Operator and Rescue Specialist - Live in the Vertical Booth at HAI Heli Expo 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!

 

This episode is powered by Vertical Helicasts.

Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:

Breeze-Eastern, Bell and PAG. 

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Episode 172 San Diego Fire Department - Live at HAI Heli Expo 2024 Vertical Booth

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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Axnes.

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Episode 171 [Full] Matt Thiessen USCG Rescue Swimmer 502 and his survivor Captain Ron Blake of the Fishing Vessel Hunter

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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Vertical HeliCASTS Mashup: HAI Heli Expo 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!

Episode 170 [Part 2] Matt Thiessen USCG Rescue Swimmer 502

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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Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:

Axnes.

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Episode 170 [Part 1] Matt Thiessen USCG Rescue Swimmer 502

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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Breeze-Eastern.Follow The Real ResQ on Facebook and Instagram and listen on Vertical Helicasts.

Episode 169 [Part 2] Dave Callen, CFI Pilot, Owner and Instructor or SR3 Rescue Concepts and Ret. Las Vegas Metro Police

In Part 2 of this two-part episode, host Jason Quinn of The Real ResQ sits down with Dave Callen, a retired Las Vegas police officer, pilot, and owner of SR3 Rescue Concepts.  

Callen and Quinny discuss two helicopter incidents that he experienced while flying. In the first incident, Callen describes feeling overwhelmed and panicked as he tries to find a landing spot during an engine failure. 

He emphasizes the importance of flying at higher altitudes to allow for more time to react. In the second incident, which occurred on New Year's Eve, Callen and his colleague Paul experienced another engine failure and made an emergency landing.

In this final part of this conversation, Callen shares the importance of good training and how it played a crucial role in his successful landing during an emergency. He also discusses the founding of SR3 Rescue Concepts and how it honors his late friend and colleague. 

Callen recounts a tragic accident that occurred during a rescue mission and the lessons learned from it. He emphasizes the value of continuous improvement and humility in the field of rescue operations. Enjoy!

This episode is powered by Vertical Helicasts.

Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:

Bell. 

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Episode 169 [Part 1] Dave Callen, CFI Pilot, Owner and Instructor or SR3 Rescue Concepts and Ret. Las Vegas Metro Police

In Part 1 of this two-part episode, host Jason Quinn of The Real ResQ sits down with Dave Callen, a retired Las Vegas police officer, pilot and owner of SR3 Rescue Concepts. 

 

They discuss Callen's career in law enforcement and aviation, including his experience as a rescue pilot. Callen shares his first three call outs as a rescue pilot and conveys how excited and ready he was for each of them.

They speak quite a bit about the challenges of flying at high altitudes. Callen also tells an exciting story out of Las Vegas about a challenging rescue for a lady who was lost in the Mount Charleston area at around 11,000 feet.

Callen reflects on search-and-rescue (SAR) callouts, the importance of decision-making and leadership in high-stress situations, and the responsibility of leaders to trust their team and provide them with the tools to make good decisions. Overall, for a woman who was lost in the Mount Charleston area, this highlights the importance of learning from mistakes and constantly improving in order to ensure the safety of all involved. Enjoy!

This episode is powered by Vertical Helicasts.

Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:

Collins Aerospace.

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Episode 168 Tom Jewell and Rob Winger, Firefighters from Essex County, United Kingdom

In this episode of The Real ResQ, host Jason Quinn is joined by two firefighters from Essex County, United Kingdom. Tom Jewell and Rob Winger join Quinn to share experiences and stories from their time in the fire service. They discuss their backgrounds, including family connections to firefighting, and their journey to becoming firefighters. 

Jewell retells the first two rescues that stand out to him. The first was a shipping container fire and his second was the stereotypical ‘cat stuck in a tree!’ For Winger, the first two rescues that stand out were life lessons. The first was a fire where he had to search for a baby potentially located somewhere in the building. The second was a large fire in a flat where he had to pull a victim out of the building.  

They also speak about their involvement in the International Search and Rescue Team, which responds to natural disasters around the world. Both Jewell and Winger continue to share memorable rescue stories. These include a rescue from a rolled over lorry, a rescue from a left-hand drive lorry, the clean-up process after a rescue, unusual callouts, international deployments, and logistics of deployments and rescue operations in Morocco.

They tell all about the founding of The Soteria Group (TSG) and offer advice for young firefighters. At the end of the conversation, Jewell and Winger explain the importance of owning mistakes and recovering from them when they occur, as well as learning from others' experiences in the fire service. Enjoy!

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Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ: 

PAG.

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Episode 167 [Part 2] Rob Simpson USCG Rescue Swimmer 699

In Part 2 of The Real ResQ - Episode 167, host Jason Quinn continues his conversation with Rob Simpson, USCG Rescue Swimmer 699.  Simpson wrote a powerful article for Mountain Tactical Institute titled: “Speaking to a Flight Doc about My Sleeping and Stress Struggles Got Me Grounded … But it was Worth It.”

We learn about the details about the events discussed in Simpson’s article. We hear how his mental health was affected by being a rescue swimmer and how he eventually sought help. While Simpson got grounded from flying, he used the time to come back stronger and it was not the end of his story. Simpson highlights the physical and emotional demands of being a rescue swimmer and the importance of addressing mental health issues. 

The conversation continues to discuss Rob’s journey of recovery and the process of returning to flight duties. The key takeaways include the need for open communication, trust, and gratitude in dealing with mental health issues. Enjoy!

 

This episode is powered by Vertical Helicasts.

Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:

Axnes.

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References for this episode:

Rob’s Article