The Real ResQ Podcast TheRealResQ

In this episode of The Real ResQ, host Jason Quinn is joined by Gwenny Lawson, a flight nurse and lead instructor for Impact EMS. 
Lawson discusses her background and journey into nursing, as well as some impactful patient encounters. She emphasizes the importance of being present for patients and their families during critical moments. She also highlights the ripple effect that medical professionals have on their communities.
One of the stories Lawson shares is about a traumatic arrest and the successful return of spontaneous circulation. She shares two more remarkable stories that stand out to her. The first story involves a LifeNet flight to Omaha where they had to resuscitate a patient who suffered severe injuries in a motorcycle accident. The second story involves landing on a sandbar and walking through a river to pick up a patient who was not able to be carried out of the area.  
Our next story takes place in Haiti, where Lawson volunteers with an organization called HERO. She describes the challenges and rewards of providing medical care in a developing country. 
Lawson then goes on to share her experiences as a flight nurse and educator. She also emphasizes the importance of slowing down and being intentional with patient care. She highlights the value of continuous learning and the need to carry the right equipment. Overall, Lawson's advice is to always keep learning and be open to the idea of being wrong.
 
This episode is powered by Vertical Helicasts.
Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:
Bell and AEM.
Follow The Real ResQ on Facebook and Instagram and listen on Vertical Helicasts.
Gwenny Lawson’s Book - BUT WHY?: Going Beyond the What So You Can Understand the Why of Critical Care Transport

In Part 2 of this two-part series, host Jason Quinn of The Real ResQ is joined by Kristin Gousse and Jeremy Urekew from the Powell County, Kentucky search-and-rescue team. 
We talk about a story involving four hikers who were stranded atop Courthouse Rock due to rapid changing weather conditions. The rescue team considered various options, including a climb up and rescue of the hikers using ropes. Ultimately, they decided a helicopter was the best option. The rescue gained national attention and was featured on Good Morning America. 
They get into another rescue that happened two days prior to our recording.  This is the first time the full story had been released. An off road vehicle had taken a plunge down a cliffside and had a woman injured and stuck at the crash.  A full team spent hours in the dark to get her out.  
The rest of the conversation covers the importance of training and experience, the desire to be first on the scene, respecting other rescuers, challenges faced during rescues, lessons learned, international rope rescue competitions, and advice for rescuers. Enjoy!
 
This episode is powered by Vertical Helicasts.
Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:
Bell and PAG.
Follow The Real ResQ on Facebook and Instagram and listen on Vertical Helicasts.

In Part 1 of this two-part series, host Jason Quinn of The Real ResQ is joined by Kristin Gousse and Jeremy Urekew from the Powell County, Kentucky search-and-rescue team. 
Gousse and Urekew share their first rescue experiences and their passion for technical rescue. They also mention their involvement in the 2022 flood rescues. They focus on the search-and-rescue efforts during a flood in Breathitt County, Kentucky. They recount their experiences rescuing a family stranded in their home, searching for a missing person, and dealing with the challenges of contaminated flood water. 
They also discuss the coordination and challenges of conducting search-and-rescue operations in mountainous terrain. Additionally, they share stories of rescuing a person who fell off a cliff and a dog stuck on a ledge. Enjoy!
 
This episode is powered by Vertical Helicasts.
Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:
Breeze-Eastern and Axnes.Follow The Real ResQ on Facebook and Instagram and listen on Vertical Helicasts.

In this episode of The Real ResQ this will be another one of our Vertical Helicasts Mash-Up episodes with Jon Gray from The Hangar Z Podcast and Halsey Schider from The Helicopter Podcast.
 
In this episode we introduce our newest Vertical host, Val Medved, who will be hosting the new Vertical MRO Podcast—the first episode drops today.
 
The Vertical MRO Podcast explores the world of helicopter maintenance, repair, and overhaul. The episodes feature helicopter technicians, mechanics engineers, and MRO experts who will share valuable industry insight, knowledge and stories that will inspire current and aspiring industry maintainers. 
 
To find out more about the Vertical MRO Podcast go to VerticalHelicasts.com.
 
This episode is powered by Vertical Helicasts.
 
Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:
Breeze-Eastern, Axnes and Switlik.
Follow The Real ResQ on Facebook and Instagram and listen on Vertical Helicasts.

In this episode of The Real ResQ, host Jason Quinn is joined by Ashlee Leppert, U.S. Coast Guard flight mech veteran, author, inspirational speaker, and certified life coach.
Leppert discusses her motivation for joining the Coast Guard and her journey to becoming a flight mechanic. She speaks about many of her rescues, including a drug interdiction and migrant operation which earned her a Letter Of Commendation. 
She earned a second Letter of Commendation for rescuing two elderly persons in the water. Leppert goes on to discuss a third Letter of Commendation which she earned for her maintenance work and involvement during the 2012 Republican and Democratic National Conventions. Finally, she discusses her fourth Letter of Commendation, earned for rescuing a distressed kayaker, which also made the local news. 
As we go further into Leppert’s career, we get into a complex nighttime rescue of a 90-year-old man on a 65-foot sailing vessel. This rescue earned her a Coast Guard Achievement Medal. Next, we get into what Leppert did during the rescue efforts of Hurricane Harvey. These efforts earned her an Air Medal and a trip to Washington, D.C., to be a part of President Trump's 2018 State of The Union Speech.  
We conclude our conversation with what she's doing now. Leppert talks about writing the book, The Hurricane Within, so that she could share her story. In addition to writing a book, she has become a life coach to help others overcome their struggles. Her advice emphasizes the importance of taking care of oneself in order to be a leader in all aspects of life. She is currently a public speaker and a life coach.  Enjoy!
This episode is powered by Vertical Helicasts.
Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:
Collins Aerospace and Switlik.
Follow The Real ResQ on Facebook and Instagram and listen on Vertical Helicasts.

In this episode of The Real ResQ, host Jason Quinn is joined by Rick Woolford, U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer 03.
Woolford, being one of the first five rescue swimmers in the U.S. Coast Guard, shares his journey from joining the Coast Guard to becoming a rescue swimmer. He discusses his background in water activities and law enforcement, as well as his experience in Navy Rescue Swimmer School. 
Woolford shares his experiences with equipment and training as the rescue swimmer program continued to grow. He remembers his first rescue as a rescue swimmer, and it just so happened to be the very first rescue of a rescue swimmer since the program's inception. It was a daytime rescue out of Elizabeth City, North Carolina. A person was in the water and couldn't get into the basket, which required Woolford to get into the water.  
Woolford went on to attend Officer Candidate School (OCS) and flight school while serving as a pilot in Alaska. He recalls a rescue mission in Canada where he and his crew saved nine people from the icy waters and rocky shore. This rescue earned him a Coast Guard Commendation Medal and an Ian Fraser Award from Canada.  
Woolford also talks about his time as a helicopter instructor and the importance of training new students. He shares stories from his life in Alaska and from his career as an air ambulance pilot. 
We also touch on the gear and equipment used by rescue swimmers, including the famous Rolex watches. We finish our conversation with some good advice where Woolford emphasizes the importance of physical and mental health for rescue swimmers and highlights the legacy of the rescue swimmer program. Enjoy!
This episode is powered by Vertical Helicasts.
Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:
Breeze-Eastern and Switlik.
Follow The Real ResQ on Facebook and Instagram and listen on Vertical Helicasts.