American song along the riverbank for the Medevac (Kennewick Firefighters)
In most cases, a medical emergency aboard a cruise ship becomes a complicated process, often requiring a helicopter for an ambulance coordinated with the local coast guard. Not the case for a river cruise ship last Friday October 22nd that “stopped” and called 911.
The American Song, a luxury modern river cruise ship operated by American Cruise Lines, sails along the Columbia and Snake Rivers in Washington state. The ship, with a capacity of up to 184 guests, was on its cruise when a passenger suffered a “serious medical emergency”. Attended by a nurse, a decision was made that the passenger needed further medical attention, so the captain of the American Song called 911.
“Kennewick Firefighters see a lot of the same calls over and over, but every now and then we have something new to do,” the local fire department writes on social media. “A passenger on a cruise ship experienced a medical emergency and the ship had to be stranded west of the Blue Bridge so we could board and initiate patient care.”
On Friday evening at 6.30 p.m., the captain of the cruise ship first skilfully steered the ship to the bank of the river. The ship was bumped on the bank of the river where they could raise the ship’s bow to gain access to an embarkation ramp.
The firefighters and paramedics went to the cruise ship and, with the help of the nurse, transferred the passenger to a waiting ambulance that was taken to the local hospital.
“Great job by the captain to get the boat safely ashore so that the crews can get on board safely!” Says the fire department. “Great job on board the ship to identify a medical emergency and call 911.”
After completing the Medevac, the cruise ship was able to return to the river and its cruise.
