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BiggerAir Force rescues two tourists in emergency evacuation near Pico Duarte
The Dominican Republic Air Force carried out a successful aeromedical evacuation near Pico Duarte, rescuing two tourists who required urgent medical attention. The operation was conducted in coordination with the Emergency Operations Center and the Directorate of Out-of-Hospital Emergency Services, reinforcing inter-institutional response efforts.
The rescue mission was executed aboard a UH1H 3074 aircraft, led by Captain Pilot Juan Vásquez Ávila and First Lieutenant Pilot Martín Soto Quezada, supported by Aviation Technical Sergeant Yesther Ciprian Paredes and aeromedic Second Lieutenant Thomas Camacho Moronta. The team operated with precision in a highly complex mountainous environment to ensure the safe extraction of the injured individuals.
Both patients were transported safely to the Professor Juan Bosch Regional Traumatological and Surgical Hospital, where they received specialized medical care. The intervention highlights the оператив readiness of the Air Force and its ability to respond effectively to emergencies anywhere in the country, ensuring the protection of lives through coordinated action.
There should be manned and stocked emergency clinics at least to stabilize the injured or sick at valleys lilis and Tetero. There are ranger shacks at or near the valleys that could support clinic space. The long difficult slow overland treks to and from the mountain make it imperative to positively address health emergencies at remote locations especially when bad weather issues deny the possibility of rapid air evacuations. It would be wise for mandatory government issued emergency first aid and evacuation insurance be purchased as part of the park’s entry fee.
Remembering that a few years ago, 1917, a young woman died of DKA ( diabetic ketoacidosis ) during the mountain climb because she forgot or lost her insulin. There was no way to get insulin to her rapidly or timely evacuate her because of “adverse weather conditions”.
There was at least one tour group that arranged to have a doctor travel with them. Do not know if the group continues to do it.