The Guardian
“The Guardian” (a movie about our profession) was out for years before I watched it. When I did, I had been doing helicopter rescue work for a while. After peeling away the drama and theatre, I must admit, the writers did their homework and got a few things right. Ben Randal, the main character who plays the role of a veteran rescue swimmer, has some lines that resonate with me.
Ben Randal on risk management (RM): “There will come a time when you might have to decide who lives or dies out there. It’s a terrible responsibility but it’s one you’ll have to make as a (Coast Guard operator). The bigger reality is that it’s something you are going to have to live with as a human being. There will come a time when you have to say no. The most important people to keep alive is your (crew).”
Some elaboration on Ben Randal’s RM: Good intentions do not make up for poor timing and execution – avoid actions by the helicopter crew that worsen the situation and/or cause death or serious injury, either to the survivors or helicopter crew themselves. Examples: Medical evacuation in extreme conditions that could have been delayed; exceptionally challenging hoist to affect an evacuation from a vessel, which didn’t need to be evacuated. A term every aircraft commander needs occasionally is “not right now.”
More extreme examples involve the discipline to depart at the appropriate “bingo” (the fuel state at which we need to depart scene to have enough fuel to fly to our intended fueling/landing location): The need to stop searching and leave scene to get the survivors you were able to find and hoist to life-saving care; electing not to deploy your swimmer into conditions that are beyond the crew’s capability to recover them.
Ben Randal on the process: “Save the ones you can… the rest you’ve got to let go.” Ready, aim, fire. “I swim as fast and as hard as I can for as long as I can. And the sea takes the rest.”
Elaboration on Ben Randal’s process: If the situation is dire or one of extremis (gunnels awash, vessel on fire, or PIW), any actions you take result in a better outcome to the situation so long as you take care of the crew.
Operate to the best of your abilities. Ready, aim, fire… God willing… Thy will be done. – Spiral up
