Reviews & Ratings for the Bell-M-Shimada

On the evening of August 26, 2018, a daring medevac operation was executed by a United States Coast Guard air crew, who rescued a 32-year-old woman from the fishing vessel 'Bell M. Shimada,' located over 40 miles northwest of Grays Harbor, Washington. The distress call came in at 10:23 p.m. when a crew member notified the watchstander at Coast Guard Station Grays Harbor in Westport that a woman on board had experienced dizziness, suffered a seizure, and briefly lost consciousness. Responding swiftly, the watchstander alerted the command center personnel at Sector Columbia River. After a critical discussion involving the duty flight surgeon and the captain of the vessel, they determined that a helicopter hoist was the safest option considering the medical situation and potential risks. Transferring the woman via a surface method would have required her to navigate a 6-foot ladder alone, a precarious endeavor given her recent medical episode. Due to the necessity of seeing a neurologist within six hours, time was of the essence. An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Columbia River was dispatched, deploying a rescue swimmer who carefully secured the woman in a stokes litter on deck prior to hoisting her to safety. The helicopter successfully transported her to emergency medical services waiting at the nearby facility, where she was promptly taken to Columbia Memorial Hospital for further evaluation and care.

On July 20, 2016, the United States Coast Guard successfully performed a medical evacuation for a 28-year-old man facing severe abdominal discomfort aboard the fishing vessel "Bell M. Shimada" in waters close to Garibaldi. At 5:42 a.m., watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Columbia River received an urgent plea for assistance from the "Bell M. Shimada," where a crew member exhibited signs indicative of possible appendicitis. Responding swiftly, a 47-foot Motor Life Boat team from Coast Guard Station Tillamook Bay was dispatched to the scene. The team safely transported the afflicted NOAA crewmember to local emergency medical staff, who then took him to Tillamook County Hospital for further evaluation and treatment. Conditions at the time of the medevac were favorable, with clear skies and gentle winds, facilitating a smooth operation.