Off the Grid

Woman Medevacs -Nicaragua

Three Angels Broadcasting Network

Program transcript

Participants: Narrator: Chet Damron

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Series Code: OTG

Program Code: OTG000039A


00:01 Narrator: Adventist World Aviation has mission outposts
00:04 stationed all around the world with the mission of brining
00:08 humanitarian aid and the love of Jesus,
00:11 too difficult to reach areas.
00:14 Often the missions keep very busy flying med-evict flights,
00:19 delivering critically ill patients from remote jungles
00:22 to a place where they can receive a higher level of care.
00:26 These flights are not only lifesaving, but they share
00:31 the love of Jesus to bring hope to the hopeless.
00:36 Jud: Nicaragua, is a very unique project as are most of
00:40 AWA projects.
00:41 Projects, they are in areas where access is limited.
00:45 They are in places where they are serving people, who have
00:49 have unique needs for access to medicine.
00:53 Have unique needs as far as transportation.
00:55 And the airplane is able to provide that service to those
00:59 people in a very special way.
01:02 It has a huge impact on the lives of the people
01:05 living in these areas.
01:06 You see this project meets the needs of the Miskito people
01:10 in a wide variety of ways.
01:58 Narrator: One of Adventist World Aviation's outposts is situated
02:02 in the northeastern corner of Nicaragua.
02:05 Here Clint Hanley and his family dedicate their lives
02:09 to serving the local Miskito Indians.
02:12 Clint: I'm Clint Hanley and I live in northeast Nicaragua,
02:17 in the upper corner along the boarder of the Rio Cocoa
02:21 with the border of Honduras and I live here with my family,
02:27 2 children and my wife, who is a nurse
02:29 and we fly this airplane, a Cessna 172.
02:33 For medical work all around this region,
02:38 covering about 150 miles in all directions.
02:42 Narrator: Clint and his wife Marilyn live in Tranquera,
02:45 Nicaragua on a mission base, that they constructed themselves
02:49 over 10 years ago.
02:52 In the beginning, there was no infrastructure to support
02:55 any communications, or medical evacuations.
02:59 After a few years of hard work, the Hanley's
03:02 procured an air plane, built a runway themselves
03:05 and successfully implemented the only humanitarian aid
03:10 aviation service in the country.
03:13 This airplane is the first and only aircraft that flies medical
03:17 evacuations from remote villages and delivers patients
03:20 to a larger town called Puerto Cabezas.
03:24 Clint: Since we started flying 7 years ago, I have flown 530
03:28 patients from remote communities or from hospital to hospital
03:31 Before we came, the people got to the hospital by boats,
03:34 by road, by truck.
03:37 To give you an example, to fly from here to San Carlos
03:39 is 35 minutes for me, to get them to the hospital
03:43 from the time I get the call, until they actually arrive
03:46 in the hospital is approximately one and a half hours.
03:49 If they were to take a boat, there's no roads, so they would
03:52 have to take a boat, there's on average of one boat a day,
03:56 but sometimes there will be a day or two or three,
03:57 that go by, that there's no boats.
03:59 They're random. And the boats take 12 hours.
04:01 And usually they leave in the morning.
04:04 So if the accident happens later in the day, they're having to
04:07 wait through the night, until the next morning and then hoping
04:09 that they can find a boat with room in it,
04:11 then they ride that boat 12 hours to get to the hospital.
04:14 That's fairly average for a lot of the patients, that need
04:17 to come to the hospital.
04:18 So you can see where if it's a snake bite, a lot of the people
04:22 we carry are pregnant mothers and babies and either
04:25 the pregnancy has a problem, or the mother has had the baby
04:28 right away, or there's a complication between
04:30 the mother and the baby.
04:31 About 70% of our transports are related to that.
04:35 Narrator: It took many years of working with government
04:38 officials, but Clint was finally able to win their trust.
05:07 Clint: There is none, none other available in all of Nicaragua
05:11 doing this.
05:12 And so it's a vital piece of help, that the government
05:16 and no other aid agency was able to offer to the people
05:20 to save lives in transport.
05:23 Narrator: Clint is now well known amongst the natives
05:25 of this region and everyone knows, that they can call on him
05:29 when they are in need, or have an emergency.
05:34 Relationships like these aren't easy to develop,
05:36 but the Hanley's have lived here for 10 years, and the natives
05:41 have come to accept the missionaries
05:43 as their own Miskito people.
05:48 In this part of Central America, passengers often ride on top
05:52 of a fully loaded cargo bus, which is a common
05:57 and yet dangerous mode of transportation.
06:00 Today, Clint gets word, that one of these cargo buses overturned
06:04 in a ditch and many of its passengers were badly wounded,
06:08 some killed.
06:10 Clint: So its Dr Zunigate in Waspam, and he has a child
06:15 with some brain trouble.
06:17 And they need to go to Managua. So what I do in this case is
06:21 transfer him from the hospital in Waspam to Puerto Cabezas.
06:26 Narrator: Early the next morning Clint prepares to leave and
06:29 collect his awaiting patient, a young 2 year old boy,
06:33 who was crushed under an over turned cargo bus.
06:38 Before he can take off, he must first inspect his aircraft
06:41 and do a preflight inspection.
06:44 This procedure requires Clint to look over every part
06:48 of the aircraft as well check the oil and fuel.
06:52 It's important to make sure everything is fully operational
06:55 before they begin any flight.
06:57 Ones the plane is cleared for flight, Clint taxies
07:00 from the hangar to the runway.
07:02 Clint and his family cleared and constructed this runway
07:06 8 years ago.
07:08 Having the hangar and runway just steps away
07:11 from the Hanley home, expedites the med-evac process.
07:15 Clint now does a run-up to make sure the engine and avionics
07:19 are all running properly.
07:21 He has an electronic pre-flight checklist that he goes through
07:24 before he makes each flight.
07:27 Safety and protocol are extremely important
07:29 when it comes to aviation.
07:32 Clint takes no short cuts when it comes to safety.
07:38 Clint: Ok- Right mag. Both. Left mag. Both. Temperature is good.
07:44 Pressure is good. Charging. Suctions good. Set to go.
07:51 Narrator: Everything seems to be in order and Clint is ready
07:54 to take off and head to Waspam to pick up his very sick patient
07:59 Clint guides this plane down the gravel runway and races
08:03 off into the skies.
08:19 It's a short flight to Waspam. The skies look promising today.
08:24 This is a familiar journey for Clint; many of his patients must
08:28 be picked up from Waspam and taken to Puerto Cabezas.
10:03 Today's flight is the only option of transportation
10:06 for this young boy.
10:08 If he were to travel by road, he would likely have to travel
10:12 in a similar bus, that he had his accident in.
10:15 Additionally, the roads are terribly bad,
10:18 riddled with potholes.
10:21 This young boy, who has a fractured skull and likely
10:25 a brain injury would have to bounce down an incredibly
10:29 bad dirt road for over five hours.
10:33 This journey would definitely worsen his condition
10:37 and potentially end his life.
10:40 But thank God, this young boy won't have to risk
10:43 land travel today.
10:46 Adventist World Aviation is honored to provide lifesaving
10:50 med-evac flights in difficult to reach areas of the world.
10:54 Just by looking out the window of the aircraft, one can easily
10:58 see how rural and thick the jungle is here.
11:03 There are no roads visible and often villagers have to travel
11:08 down a slow winding river to reach aid.
11:11 But with lifesaving flights, the patient can be brought
11:17 to the aid they so desperately need.
11:34 Narrator: Soon the sights of Waspam comes into view.
11:37 This town is used as a port since it is situated
11:41 on the Rio Cocoa River.
11:43 They do have a small runway that is mostly only used by Clint.
11:48 Because the runway doesn't have constant air traffic control,
11:52 the locals don't observe safety guidelines and use the runway
11:56 as part of their daily road system.
11:59 People drive, walk and let their livestock graze on the runway.
12:04 So for this reason, Clint makes a pass over the runway first
12:08 and flies low to the ground to scare off anyone,
12:10 who might be on the runway.
12:13 He then turns the aircraft around and approaches
12:17 for final decent.
12:34 Narrator: This runway is very narrow and not well maintained
12:36 by the town.
12:38 Clint must fully concentrate on his landing to make sure
12:41 he stays on the narrow path.
12:51 Narrator: Clint skillfully brings the aircraft down
12:54 and makes contact with the gravel.
12:57 He has arrived safely to collect his patient.
13:00 As Clint taxies the aircraft off the runway, he looks for
13:04 an ambulance, that should be waiting with his patient
13:06 at the gate.
13:08 But to his disappointment the ambulance has not arrived.
13:11 Time is very critical factor in these situations.
13:15 Clint calls the hospital to check on the status
13:18 of the young boy, he has to med-evac.
13:21 When he reaches the doctors, they have a surprise for Clint.
13:26 Another patient, a 24 year old woman, who was in the bus
13:30 accident, has taken a terrible turn for the worst.
13:33 After careful evaluation the doctor determines that she
13:36 needs this lifesaving med-evac flight immediately.
13:40 They ask Clint if he would be willing to make 2 med-evac
13:43 flights today. One for this unconscious woman and the second
13:48 for the 2 year old boy. Clint accepts the challenge.
13:52 But informs the doctors, that in order to fit all the flights
13:55 into today they must hurry and deliver the patients
13:59 to the airstrips immediately.
14:01 The remote runways here in this part of Nicaragua
14:04 have no lighting. This means that no flight can be made
14:08 after the sun sets. If Clint is to make 2 med-evac flights today
14:13 he must race against the clock.
14:16 While Clint waits for his patient to arrive,
14:19 he witnesses first, hand just how poorly misused the runway is
14:25 here in Waspam.
14:26 The gates are open, the villagers resume motor and foot
14:30 traffic on the runway.
14:31 This practice is unsafe for both the village as well as pilots
14:35 flying into the runway.
14:37 Granted, the general public access to the runway degrades
14:42 and ruins the runway. It creates potholes and grooves in the dirt
14:47 Not to mention the garbage, that is disposed of on the runway.
14:51 The litter carelessly tossed aside on this runway can have
14:55 great consequences for an aircraft.
14:59 But without anyone to enforce the rules, Clint is helpless
15:03 to change the situation.
15:05 While he waits for the patient to arrive, Clint makes use
15:10 of his time and talks again to the local law enforcement,
15:12 and request that they reconsider permanently closing the runway
15:16 to the general public.
15:19 Finally the ambulance pulls up next to the airplane.
15:22 There is only room for 2 passengers on today's flight.
15:27 A nurse will accompany the unconscious woman on her flight
15:30 to Puerto Cabezas.
15:31 Doctors, nurses and family members all exit the vehicle.
15:35 The hospital here doesn't have proper transport equipment.
15:40 So they deliver the patient on a bed mattress.
15:43 The staff pulls the patient from the ambulance and carries her
15:48 to the airplane.
15:50 None is quite sure how to handle the poor woman's limp body.
15:54 Clint takes over and gives instructions on how to place her
15:58 on the backseat of the plane.
15:59 He then will properly strap her in.
16:04 It takes several men to wrap the patient in a blanket,
16:07 then carefully lift her into the airplane.
16:11 There isn't much space to maneuver, so it takes a few
16:15 attempts for the men to place her in the rear of the plane.
16:19 Once inside the nurse helps to adjust her in the seat and make
16:23 her as comfortable as possible. Clint fastens her safely
16:27 into the seat and gets last minute instructions
16:30 from her nurses.
16:32 Communication in this part of the world is very unreliable.
16:36 So Clint must often be a middleman
16:39 between medical providers.
16:43 Once everyone is safely loaded into the plane,
16:46 Clint wastes no time and begins to prepare for takeoff.
16:50 As with every flight he has a preflight checklist
16:53 that he goes through.
16:54 Safety is Adventist World Aviation's top priority.
16:59 The institution has many safety protocols in place
17:04 in all their mission outposts to minimize any risk.
17:07 At the top of his checklist is to always have prayer
17:12 before every single flight.
17:23 Clint: Preflight inspection...
17:43 Narrator: Clint starts the engine. Every moment maters
17:46 in today's flight. He must deliver this patient
17:49 as soon as possible and then make the journey back to pick up
17:53 another critically ill young boy.
17:55 without hesitation Clint pushes the aircraft forward.
17:59 Within moments they are airborne The tires leave the rocky runway
18:04 and they take flight over the jungle canopy.
18:20 Once Clint get to his desired flying altitude, he is able to
18:24 share some details he learned from the patient's nurses.
18:39 This patient is just one of many that were injured
18:41 in the tragic bus accident.
18:44 A fully loaded bus ran into a ditch and overturned, onto
18:49 it's passengers, that were riding on the top of the vehicle
18:52 Many were crushed to death. Others, like today's patient
18:57 very seriously injured.
19:00 But thankfully, Adventist World Aviation is here to help
19:03 and offer med-evac flights to get these patients to the care
19:08 they need, as quickly as possible.
19:10 Without this flight this patient would have no other choice,
19:14 but to travel in a truck, over very treacherous roads,
19:18 on a 5 hours journey. In her current state the patient might
19:22 not survive, such a treacherous journey.
19:25 Her ailing condition demands, that she gets the medical care
19:28 immediately.
19:29 With this flight Clint will have her to the hospital
19:33 in less than an hours' time.
19:49 Thus far the flight is going smoothly and without obstacle.
19:54 From the air it is clear to see, why ground transportation
19:57 is so difficult. Why, as far as the eye can see, there is just
20:03 dense jungle with only rivers cutting through the trees.
20:07 Without this flight this patient might not survive the accident
20:10 she endured.
20:12 Thankfully they are almost halfway to their destination.
20:16 And she will be turned over to the doctors,
20:19 who can properly treat her condition.
20:22 As Clint look unto the horizon, he sees dark clouds
20:25 looming in the distance.
20:44 Storms are not a welcome sight to any small aircraft pilot.
20:49 Thankfully, Clint has much experience in flying
20:52 in this type of weather conditions.
21:10 Clint does all he can to avoid flying in turbulent weather.
21:14 the clouds completely surround the aircraft,
21:17 and there is no visibility outside the aircraft.
21:21 In order to keep this plane on course, Clint must fly by
21:25 what is called IFR. IFR stands for instrument flight rules.
21:31 It calls for instrument flight, because the pilot navigates only
21:36 by reference to the instruments in the cockpit of the aircraft.
21:40 Clint is able to climb above the clouds and away from the storm.
21:45 The young patient in the back remains undisturbed
21:48 as they travel safely on.
22:10 When flying in this dense, thick fog, Clint is completely relying
22:15 on his instruments to keep him on course
22:17 and at a safe altitude.
22:20 He has zero visibility out of his windows.
22:23 The clouds have completely engulfed the airplane.
22:27 As an extra safety precaution, Clint keeps close communication
22:32 with the awaiting control tower at the destination.
22:47 The control tower assures Clint, that there is no other aircraft
22:50 traveling in his line of flight.
22:52 The control tower monitors all traffic in the area
22:55 and communicates with aircrafts to keep midair collisions
22:59 from happening.
23:00 Especially in this type of weather with zero visibility.
23:05 Clint gets another call from the doctors of the village
23:08 he just left.
23:27 They have a third patient, that needs to be med-evaced today.
23:30 After dropping off this patient, Clint will turn around
23:34 and collect two more critically injured children, that need
23:38 immediate medical care today.
23:41 Currently this aviation mission base is the only humanitarian
23:45 aviation support in the entire country of Nicaragua.
23:49 There are no other aviation projects or med-evac services
23:53 to help the people there in Nicaragua.
23:56 This project is the only noncommercial aircraft
24:00 allowed to fly in the skies of Nicaragua.
24:16 Clint must begin his descent into the Puerto Cabezas airport.
24:21 As he lowers his altitude, he is able to finally regain some
24:25 of his visibility.
24:39 The journey for the unconscious woman is now drawing to an end.
24:42 The view of Puerto Cabezas is on the horizon,
24:45 just a few short miles and they'll be safely
24:48 on the ground again.
24:49 Clint reviews his landing procedure to ensure
24:52 everything is prepared for landing.
24:59 The runway is a welcome sight to all.
25:02 Clint makes his final turn. Lines up with the runway
25:05 for landing. This is a nice long runway.
25:09 So he has plenty of room to land a small plane.
25:12 Clint lowers the plane until finally feels those wheels
25:16 of the plane touch the ground.
25:19 Ahhh, we've arrived safely.
25:23 Clint taxies over to the terminal area, where emergency
25:26 medical staff await.
25:28 Everyone here knows Clint well, since they work together
25:31 so frequently.
25:32 The patient seems to have faired well during the flight.
25:36 Now that they are on the ground, there is no time to waste.
25:40 Clint must quickly turn over his patient to the ambulance,
25:44 than race back to Waspam to pick up another batch of patients.
25:51 The ambulance drives right onto the tarmac and pulls up
25:54 right next to the plane.
25:56 Paramedics spring into action and transfer the patient.
26:00 They gently pull her from the plane
26:02 and transfer to a stretcher.
26:04 She is still completely unconscious.
26:07 Showing no signs of awakening.
26:11 The paramedics can see, that she needs immediate
26:14 medical attention.
26:16 With a few careful moves, they place her in the ambulance
26:19 and whisk her away to the hospital.
26:22 As they drive through the village streets, the siren
26:25 rings aloud to announce the arrival of this patient.
26:27 Clint calls ahead to the hospital, so they prepare
26:31 a space for her. And she can be seen by a doctor right away.
26:37 Thankfully, the airport is only a few short miles
26:40 from the hospital.
26:41 It will only be a few more minutes before she'll be seen
26:44 by the doctor and start receiving lifesaving treatment.
26:49 As they pull up to the hospital, the staff works quickly
26:52 to get the patient inside.
26:55 There are many other patients waiting inside to be seen.
26:58 But this emergent patient takes precedent.
27:02 She is taken straight back to a waiting physician.
27:06 Although it's been a busy one, this day is only half over
27:10 for Clint.
27:12 He must now venture back out into the stormy skies
27:16 to give yet another med-evac flight before it gets dark.
27:21 Clint: There is our trip. Let's see.
27:28 Take off, passenger briefing is good, preflight inspection
27:31 fuel sometimes 3
27:33 Narrator: With no time to waste, he starts his engines and turns
27:37 the plane back onto the runway. Clint gets clearance from the
27:41 control tower for takeoff.
27:52 So without hesitation he races down the runway and turns his
27:55 plane north to Waspam.
28:23 Busy days like today are very frequent here in the Adventist
28:26 World Aviation mission outpost in Nicaragua.
28:29 While they might be tired, the Adventist World Aviation pilots
28:33 would have it no other way.
28:36 There are countless ways aviation can help save lives
28:39 here in the jungle.
28:40 They find their work here very fulfilling,
28:43 as they know, they are on God's great mission.


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Revised 2016-12-15