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In this episode of The Real ResQ Podcast, Jason Quinn welcomes Steve Lurati, U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer #49, to share stories from a career that began during the earliest years of the Coast Guard’s helicopter rescue swimmer program. Steve takes us through his journey from San Francisco and a brief career in police work to joining the Coast Guard and finding his place in aviation. With plenty of laughs along the way, he recalls the challenges, colorful personalities, and occasional trouble that shaped his path to becoming a rescue swimmer. Stationed in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Steve found himself putting his training to work in extraordinary circumstances. He recounts deploying into hurricane-driven seas to reach two people and their dog aboard a disabled sailboat—a mission that earned him a Coast Guard Commendation Medal and helped demonstrate what the young rescue swimmer program could accomplish. On another call, Steve headed 300 miles offshore to help a man suffering seizures aboard a small sailboat. When the helicopter had to leave because of fuel limits, Steve remained with the patient. Then the medical equipment intended to support him sank before he could retrieve it. With limited resources and a long way to shore, he had to find another way forward. Steve also shares the story of a challenging hoist onto a tanker to evacuate a stabbing victim, only to discover that reaching the deck was just the beginning of the problem. His time in Astoria, Oregon, brought a different set of challenges, including missing fishermen, burning vessels, and witnessing two fishing boats collide while his crew was already on scene for a medical evacuation. Beyond the rescues, Steve reflects on his years as an instructor at the Navy’s rescue swimmer school in Pensacola. He discusses maintaining standards, helping students overcome obstacles, and recognizing the difference between pushing someone to succeed and using authority for the wrong reasons. After 20 years and one day in the Coast Guard, Steve carried those experiences into a second career as a probation officer. Throughout the conversation, he returns to the lessons that connected both careers: treat people with respect, take responsibility for what you can influence, and don’t limit what you’re willing to learn. It’s a conversation filled with remarkable rescues, honest reflections, and the humor of an early rescue swimmer who still has plenty of stories to tell. Enjoy! Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:  READYBAR https://getreadybar.com/.  We also have some amazing companies supporting The Real ResQ. These brands offer you exclusive discounts when you use our code, and when you do, you’re helping to support the show. To check out the full list of these supportive brands and the deals they offer, head over to TheRealResQ.com. Follow The Real ResQ for all updates on Facebook, Instagram or visit TheRealResQ.com

In this episode of The Real ResQ Podcast, host Jason Quinn sits down with retired U.S. Navy Command Master Chief Keith “Flip” Griffin—a Navy Search and Rescue Medical Technician whose remarkable 23-year career took him from Puerto Rico and the mountains of Washington State to Iraq, Kuwait, Japan, Australia, and beyond. Flip’s path into search and rescue began in an unexpected place: the United States Navy Ceremonial Guard in Washington, D.C. After an injury introduced him to the medical field, he became a Navy corpsman and eventually discovered the world of aviation search and rescue. His early missions included responding to a military Humvee rollover involving multiple injured service members and rescuing a diver who had been stranded for more than 24 hours along the rocky coast of Puerto Rico. But when Flip transferred to NAS Whidbey Island, the job changed dramatically. Suddenly, he was operating in the mountains, responding to serious injuries in remote terrain, and learning to work alongside civilian ground-search teams. Later, while deployed to Australia, Flip and his crew received the call every rescue team trains for: 39 people were aboard a boat taking on water in a crocodile-filled river, deep in the Australian outback. The crew launched into total darkness, flying under night-vision goggles while developing a plan to evacuate everyone from the sinking vessel. They were less than a mile away when everything changed. The rescue never happened—and that may have been the best possible outcome. Flip also shares how Navy SAR corpsmen fought to grow their community, improve equipment and training, and prove their value across military aviation. He discusses teaching at Aviation Rescue Swimmer School, conducting medevac missions during overseas deployments, and eventually using his position in senior leadership to advocate for the next generation of rescuers. Throughout the conversation, Flip offers lessons earned over decades of operational experience: Respect the environment, because the water, mountains, and wilderness can kill as quickly as any weapon.Test your equipment before the moment you need it.Carry gear that can serve more than one purpose.Understand that the helicopter may be the most important piece of medical equipment available.Never assume different rescue organizations see the same problem from the same perspective.Today, Flip continues serving others through Firehouse Freedom, where he helps fire departments strengthen leadership, accountability, communication, recruiting, retention, and life inside the firehouse. He is also a contributor to Firehouse Magazine and the co-owner of Backcountry Medical. This episode is filled with incredible rescue stories, hard-earned leadership lessons, plenty of interservice humor, and one unforgettable training mistake that gave Flip his original call sign: “Tumo.” And before the episode ends, Flip issues a challenge to every rescuer listening: open your gear bags, identify three things you may not actually need, and begin thinking differently about what you carry into the field. Enjoy! To connect with Flip Griffin: Website: FirehouseFreedom.com  Email: [email protected]  LinkedIn: Search for Keith “Flip” Griffin  Firehouse Magazine: The Flip Side of the Firehouse Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:  READYBAR https://getreadybar.com/.  We also have some amazing companies supporting The Real ResQ. These brands offer you exclusive discounts when you use our code, and when you do, you’re helping to support the show. To check out the full list of these supportive brands and the deals they offer, head over to TheRealResQ.com. Follow The Real ResQ for all updates on Facebook, Instagram or visit TheRealResQ.com

In this episode of The Real ResQ Podcast, returning guest Josie McKee shares her journey from once needing to be rescued herself to joining Yosemite Search and Rescue—and ultimately using that experience to help save the life of her climbing partner. McKee’s first encounter with search and rescue came at 17, when she and a friend became lost after skiing out of bounds. With darkness approaching and heavy snow erasing their tracks, they dug a snow cave and waited until ski patrol found them around midnight. Years later, McKee found herself on the other side of the rescue. As a member of Yosemite Search and Rescue, she became part of a team responsible for incredibly complex operations on the towering cliffs above Yosemite Valley. She takes us inside rescues involving helicopter insertions, thousands of feet of rope, and teams suspended high on the face of El Capitan. McKee also shares the night she went from rescuer to victim. While camping in Baja, Mexico, she awakened inside her truck to find a masked man demanding her keys. The violent carjacking left her with a broken clavicle, a stolen vehicle, and the realization that she had narrowly escaped being kidnapped. The accumulated weight of rescues, recoveries, dangerous climbing incidents, and the attack in Baja eventually began affecting her sleep, climbing, and willingness to respond when her pager sounded. She was experiencing a significant stress injury—even though she did not yet have the words to describe it. After stepping away from Yosemite Search and Rescue and working with a sports psychologist, McKee slowly found her way back to climbing. Then, on October 11, 2017, everything changed. McKee and accomplished climber Quinn Brett were attempting a one-day ascent of The Nose on El Capitan when Brett fell more than 100 feet. McKee watched her friend fall past her and come to rest critically injured and initially unresponsive. Hundreds of feet above the ground, McKee had to control her emotions, carefully rig a rappel system, reach Brett, establish her airway, stop the bleeding, and coordinate a rescue—all while daylight faded and the afternoon winds continued to build. What followed became a race against time and weather, with Brett’s life hanging in the balance. McKee also reveals what happened after the helicopter departed and how the care provided by her former teammates helped her begin processing what she had just witnessed. She explains the principles of psychological first aid and why caring for a responder after a traumatic rescue can be just as important as caring for the patient. Today, McKee has returned to search and rescue in Wyoming’s Wind River Mountains and helps rescuers and other high-risk professionals better understand stress injuries, resilience, and recovery. This episode is about technical rescue, calculated risk, accumulated trauma, and the moment a climbing partner had to become the rescuer. Enjoy! Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:  READYBAR https://getreadybar.com/.  We also have some amazing companies supporting The Real ResQ. These brands offer you exclusive discounts when you use our code, and when you do, you’re helping to support the show. To check out the full list of these supportive brands and the deals they offer, head over to TheRealResQ.com. Follow The Real ResQ for all updates on Facebook, Instagram or visit TheRealResQ.com

In Episode 277 of The Real ResQ Podcast, host Jason Quinn speaks with David Cicotello, who shares an extraordinary story of survival, loss, faith, and recovery. In March 2011, Cicotello and his older brother, Louis, entered the North Fork of No Man’s Canyon in Utah for what was supposed to be a six-hour canyoneering trip. During their final rappel, Louis called out that the rope was short. Seconds later, the rope ripped through the rappel ring and disappeared over the edge. Unable to reach his brother, descend the canyon, or climb back the way they had entered, Cicotello was trapped. With only the contents of a day pack, a small amount of food and water, and no way to call for help, he turned his attention to one goal: survive until rescuers could find him. Cicotello takes us through the 144 hours he spent alone in the canyon—rationing supplies, enduring freezing nights, creating a HELP sign, and relying on routines, determination, and faith to keep going. A map Cicotello left with his loved ones eventually led search-and-rescue teams to the brothers’ location. Utah DPS pilot Luke Bowman, Trooper Aaron Beasley, Commander Rustin Grundy, and members of Wayne County Search and Rescue reached Cicotello and pulled him from the canyon. Cicotello also speaks openly about losing his brother and the difficult recovery that followed. As he explains, surviving the canyon was only the first stage. Learning to live with what happened required another community of people to help rescue him all over again. This episode shares the survivor’s perspective of a rescue previously discussed by Luke Bowman in Episode 249—and serves as a powerful reminder to prepare carefully, leave a detailed route plan, and never underestimate the people who will come looking when you need them most. Enjoy! Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:  READYBAR https://getreadybar.com/.  We also have some amazing companies supporting The Real ResQ. These brands offer you exclusive discounts when you use our code, and when you do, you’re helping to support the show. To check out the full list of these supportive brands and the deals they offer, head over to TheRealResQ.com. Follow The Real ResQ for all updates on Facebook, Instagram or visit TheRealResQ.com

In this episode of The Real ResQ Podcast, host Jason Quinn sits down with Dr. Steve Glassey, a public safety “pracademic” and CEO of the International Public Safety Qualifications Authority (IPSQA). Glassey’s nearly 30-year career has taken him through the Royal New Zealand Navy, emergency medical services, firefighting, urban search and rescue, swiftwater rescue, animal welfare, humanitarian disaster response, and academia. His work has brought him to major disasters around the world, including Typhoon Ketsana in Laos, the Samoan tsunami, the Christchurch earthquake, and the devastating Australian bushfires. The conversation begins with Glassey’s early years in rescue and the creation of the Wellington SPCA Animal Rescue Unit—the first technical animal rescue team of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. He recalls one of the team's earliest missions involving Ace, a German shepherd trapped on a cliff, an improvised harness, and a hard lesson in never taking an owner's word that their dog won't bite. Glassey also shares the story of his first cardiac-arrest patient and explains how those early experiences shaped his approach to emergency response, leadership, and decision-making. The conversation then moves into major disaster operations and lessons from the 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Glassey discusses the importance of clearly established command structures and introduces his ABCs of emergency response: “Assume nothing. Believe no one. Confirm everything.” Glassey and Quinn examine the dangers of swiftwater and flood rescue, including the frequency of vehicle-related flood deaths and the growing “glass coffin” problem created by laminated vehicle windows. Glassey explains why traditional window-breaking tools may no longer work on newer vehicles and why rescuers must begin adapting their tactics and equipment. They also discuss the Swiftwater Recovery Specialist program developed by Glassey and New Zealand Police Senior Sergeant Jeff Bray. The program received a Higgins & Langley Memorial Award for its evidence-based and compassionate approach to recovering deceased victims from moving water. Glassey explains why a technically successful recovery can still become a failure when the dignity of the victim and the needs of the family are overlooked. One of the episode’s most intense stories involves a horse trapped beneath a cliff along the rising Otaki River. The rescue required rope technicians, swiftwater personnel, veterinarians, and a helicopter crew to work together. Once the horse was sedated, the team had only seconds to connect the sling and lift it clear before its head disappeared beneath the rising water. Glassey also recounts deploying with Animal Evac New Zealand during the catastrophic 2019–2020 Australian bushfires, where his team searched burned areas for surviving wildlife and relocated animals left without food or water. The episode then turns to Glassey’s work as CEO of IPSQA. He explains how fraudulent, unverified, and poorly assessed qualifications can place rescuers, patients, and entire organizations at risk. IPSQA separates training from independent certification, creating a global assessment system intended to verify that public safety professionals can actually perform the skills listed on their credentials. Finally, Glassey introduces a next-generation water rescue breathing apparatus developed for swiftwater rescuers, boat crews, tactical operators, and other water-rescue professionals. The system automatically transitions from ambient air to compressed air when submerged while also providing integrated team and patient communications. He believes the technology could eventually change water rescue in much the same way breathing apparatus changed structural firefighting. The episode closes with a hilarious story involving highly trained U.S. Air Force Pararescuemen, a nighttime swiftwater exercise, and a completely fabricated warning about giant killer eels in New Zealand. This episode delivers powerful rescue stories, hard-earned lessons, innovative ideas, and plenty of humor—all from a man working at the intersection of frontline experience, research, education, and public safety. Enjoy! Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:  READYBAR https://getreadybar.com/ IPSQA https://ipsqa.com/. (To learn more about IPSQA, visit IPSQA.com or connect with Dr. Steve Glassey on LinkedIn.) We also have some amazing companies supporting The Real ResQ. These brands offer you exclusive discounts when you use our code, and when you do, you’re helping to support the show. To check out the full list of these supportive brands and the deals they offer, head over to TheRealResQ.com. Follow The Real ResQ for all updates on Facebook, Instagram or visit TheRealResQ.com

In this episode of The Real ResQ Podcast, host Jason Quinn sits down with Canadian Armed Forces Search and Rescue Technicians Matthew Sebo and Connor Twomey. Both Sebo and Twomey came to the SARTech community after already serving in the Canadian Armed Forces. Matt spent 11 years in the Armoured Corps—including a deployment alongside his brother—before deciding he wanted to move away from fighting and toward a career focused on helping people. Connor began as a reservist medic before discovering the SARTech trade and realizing it combined the medicine, challenge, and specialized rescue work he was looking for. The centerpiece of the episode is a September 2025 plane crash in remote northern Manitoba. Five people were believed to be aboard, the crash site was deep in the wilderness, and reaching it by conventional means wasn't an option. Four SARTechs loaded their equipment aboard a Hercules and headed north. Arriving in complete darkness, the team parachuted into a nearby lake carrying roughly 100 pounds of equipment in addition to their parachutes, then pushed through thick muskeg and boreal forest toward the burning wreckage. When they reached the crash site, they discovered one survivor—a badly injured 20-year-old pilot. With hypothermia setting in, the SARTechs began advanced medical treatment while simultaneously developing a plan to get him out. What follows is an extraordinary chain of rescue: treating the survivor in the wilderness, carrying him through difficult terrain, moving into deep water to reach a hovering helicopter, transferring him back to the Hercules, and ultimately getting him to definitive medical care. Connor also shares another operational parachute rescue involving a helicopter crash in the Canadian wilderness—another mission where a pilot survived against incredible odds. Throughout the episode, Sebo and Twomey talk about preparation, teamwork, lessons learned, the realities of operational parachuting, and what it means to be a SARTech when the only way to reach someone in trouble is to jump out of an airplane and go get them. Enjoy! Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:  Switlik https://switlik.com/ We also have some amazing companies supporting The Real ResQ. These brands offer you exclusive discounts when you use our code, and when you do, you’re helping to support the show. To check out the full list of these supportive brands and the deals they offer, head over to TheRealResQ.com. Follow The Real ResQ for all updates on Facebook, Instagram or visit TheRealResQ.com

In this episode of The Real ResQ Podcast, host Jason Quinn sits down with Greg Hudson, a Canadian Armed Forces Search and Rescue Technician (SAR Tech), to talk about his journey into one of the most unique rescue jobs in the world. After nearly a decade in the Army, Hudson discovered the SAR Tech world, completed selection and training, and began a career that would have him parachuting from airplanes, hoisting from helicopters, providing advanced medical care, and operating everywhere from the Canadian wilderness to the North Atlantic. Hudson shares stories from his time at 413 Squadron in Greenwood, 424 Squadron in Trenton, and 103 Squadron in Gander—including his first rescue from a cruise ship, searches for downed aircraft, missions to fishing vessels, and the realities of operating in some of Canada's most remote environments. The centerpiece of the episode is the rescue of the MSC Baltic III. With the vessel disabled and drifting toward shore in brutal conditions, Hudson and the crew launched to find 20 people onboard, several injured. Hudson takes us onto the ice-covered deck, inside the damaged ship, and through the triage and hoisting operation as the crew worked to get everyone off safely. There are plenty of laughs along the way, too—including a rescue mission to a fishing boat trapped in the ice whose crew needed food, water…and was very concerned that the SAR Techs not forget the cigarettes. Throughout the conversation, Hudson emphasizes the value of sharing experiences—the good decisions, the mistakes, and the lessons learned—so the next rescuer can approach the job a little better prepared. From parachutes and hoists to medicine, teamwork, and life aboard a rescue squadron, this episode is an awesome look inside the world of a Canadian SAR Tech. Enjoy! We have some amazing companies supporting The Real ResQ. These brands offer you exclusive discounts when you use our code, and when you do, you’re helping to support the show. To check out the full list of these supportive brands and the deals they offer, head over to TheRealResQ.com. Follow The Real ResQ for all updates on Facebook, Instagram or visit TheRealResQ.com

In this episode of The Real ResQ Podcast, host Jason Quinn sits down with Mathew Neri, Royal Canadian Air Force search and rescue pilot and as of this recording, the Commanding Officer of 103 Search and Rescue Squadron in Gander, Newfoundland. Neri takes us inside the world of Canadian search and rescue, where missions can stretch hundreds of miles offshore or deep into the remote Arctic. Flying the massive CH-149 Cormorant, his crews routinely battle fog, icing, high winds, limited fuel options, and some of the most isolated terrain on the planet. He shares the story of his first major mission as an aircraft commander—a helicopter crash hundreds of miles north in the Canadian Arctic—and the uncertainty of being a relatively new commander suddenly responsible for taking a crew into an environment he had never operated in before. Neri also walks through a challenging long-range medevac from a cargo ship off the Labrador coast. With no visible horizon and the ship rolling beneath the helicopter, the crew had to rethink their plan while one of the SARTechs nearly slid across the wet deck toward the edge during the hoist. They ultimately completed the rescue and got the patient safely to the hospital. Along the way, Neri explains how Canadian SAR crews operate, the intense training behind the SARTech community, Arctic survival training in temperatures reaching extreme lows, and the enormous amount of planning and decision-making required when the nearest fuel or rescue resource may be hours away. The conversation is filled with great rescue stories, humor, lessons learned, and an important reminder from Neri: sometimes the most important decision a rescue crew can make is knowing when to say no. From the North Atlantic to the Canadian Arctic, this episode offers an incredible look inside one of the most unique search and rescue environments in the world. Enjoy! Matt Neri YouTube: www.youtube.com/@mattfrom103 We have some amazing companies supporting The Real ResQ. These brands offer you exclusive discounts when you use our code, and when you do, you’re helping to support the show. To check out the full list of these supportive brands and the deals they offer, head over to TheRealResQ.com. Follow The Real ResQ for all updates on Facebook, Instagram or visit TheRealResQ.com

In this episode of The Real ResQ Podcast, host Jason Quinn sits down with retired U.S. Coast Guard aviator Richard “Dick” Wright for an incredible look at a career spanning military aviation, combat, search and rescue, and the development of the Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Program. Wright’s journey took him through the Navy, Marine Corps, Army flight school, combat operations in Vietnam, the U.S. Coast Guard, and an exchange tour flying search and rescue with the Royal Air Force in Scotland. One of the most powerful stories comes from Vietnam, where Wright’s Huey was hit by enemy fire, lost its engine, and crashed into a river. Trapped underwater for nearly three minutes, he ultimately escaped—but the loss of a fellow serviceman during that mission would stay with him for the rest of his life.  After transitioning to the Coast Guard, Wright flew demanding SAR missions from New Orleans to Alaska, supported the 1980 Cuban refugee boatlift, and gained experience in some of the most challenging rescue environments imaginable.  Later, at Coast Guard Headquarters, Wright played an important role in expanding the Rescue Swimmer Program beyond open-ocean rescue, helping develop capabilities for cliff, cave, ice, and direct-deployment operations, while also contributing to concepts that helped shape advanced rescue swimmer training.  Throughout the conversation, Wright shares the rescues, losses, lessons, and people that shaped his career and helped influence the future of Coast Guard aviation search and rescue. It’s a remarkable conversation with a man who simply calls himself “a pilot,” but whose impact reached far beyond the cockpit. Enjoy! Beyond the Podcast: Additional Chapters from Dick Wright’s Career Following our conversation, Dick Wright shared several additional pieces of his remarkable military and Coast Guard career that we did not have an opportunity to explore during the podcast. From the Navy to the Marine Corps During the episode, we mentioned that Dick served in the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard—but we did not explain the circumstances that led him from one service to the next. After being discharged from the United States Naval Academy, Dick was placed in the Naval Reserve because he still owed the Navy a service commitment. In 1968, as the Vietnam War continued, he requested to be recalled to active duty and assigned to the Navy’s Swift Boats operating in Vietnam. The Navy denied his request. Still determined to serve on active duty, Dick began exploring opportunities with the United States Marine Corps. That decision marked the beginning of the next chapter of his military career and ultimately became part of the extraordinary journey that would take him through three different branches of the United States Armed Forces. Leading a Caribbean Drug-Interdiction Operation Another important chapter occurred in 1989 while Dick was stationed at Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City. His commanding officer, Commander Mike McCormack, nominated him for a special drug-interdiction assignment. Rear Admiral Pennington, Commander of the Ninth Coast Guard District, personally selected Dick to serve as the officer in charge of an operation based in Curaçao in the Caribbean. Dick led the operation from a Dutch naval air station, directing a pair of E-2C fixed-wing aircraft supporting counter-narcotics missions in the region. When he arrived, relations between the Coast Guard detachment and the Dutch military command were strained. Dick’s predecessor had reportedly treated the air station as though the Coast Guard controlled it, nearly causing Dutch officials to withdraw permission for continued Coast Guard operations. Dick was uniquely equipped to repair that relationship. He had previously lived in Holland, spoke Dutch, and understood Dutch culture. His family also had a meaningful connection to the country: Dick’s father had been knighted by Queen Juliana as a Knight Commander in the Order of Orange-Nassau. Through diplomacy, respect, and his ability to communicate directly with the Dutch command, Dick rebuilt the relationship between the two organizations. The improvement was so significant that Dutch military leaders formally commended his team to the Coast Guard command in Miami responsible for overseeing the operation. Under Dick’s leadership, the deployment became the most successful operation of its kind in several years. Although this part of his career was not directly connected to search and rescue, it reveals another side of Dick’s service: his ability to lead complex operations, build international partnerships, and step into a difficult situation where success depended as much on trust and diplomacy as it did on operational expertise. A Memorable Medevac from the SS Rotterdam During the interview, Dick also recalled one particularly memorable—and surprisingly enjoyable—search-and-rescue mission: the medevac of an 84-year-old woman who had broken her leg aboard the SS Rotterdam in Glacier Bay, Alaska. Shortly after our conversation, Dick’s wife asked him to retrieve an old scrapbook from their years in Sitka. Inside, she discovered a newspaper article documenting that very rescue. After all those years, the story Dick remembered so clearly was still preserved among the family’s photographs and newspaper clippings. Dick can be seen in the accompanying photograph, standing in the rear on the right—back when, as he jokingly noted, he still had “a head full of brown hair.” Of all the missions Dick flew throughout his career, it may seem surprising that this particular case remained so vivid. Not every memorable rescue is remembered because it was the most dangerous or dramatic. Sometimes it is the people, the circumstances, the teamwork, or simply the feeling of a successful day that stays with a rescuer for the rest of his life. These additional stories help complete the portrait of Dick Wright’s career: a career shaped by determination, military service, aviation, international leadership, diplomacy, and a lifetime of answering the call when others needed help. Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:  READYBAR https://getreadybar.com/ Switlik https://switlik.com/ We also have some amazing companies supporting The Real ResQ. These brands offer you exclusive discounts when you use our code, and when you do, you’re helping to support the show. To check out the full list of these supportive brands and the deals they offer, head over to TheRealResQ.com. Follow The Real ResQ for all updates on Facebook, Instagram or visit TheRealResQ.com

In this episode of The Real ResQ Podcast, Jason Quinn sits down with Brad Newbury and his daughter, Kiera Newbury, to talk about rescue, emergency medicine, CPR, and the lasting impact of saving a life. Brad brings more than four decades of experience in fire and EMS, while Kiera grew up around emergency medicine, became CPR certified at eight years old, later earned her EMT certification, and worked in a Level I trauma center in Boston. Together, they co-authored The Saved Effect, a book focused on what happens after the rescue is over.  Our conversation explores powerful stories of cardiac arrest and drowning survivors who went on to live for years and even decades after being saved. One survivor lived another 27 years, long enough to walk both daughters down the aisle, help raise grandchildren, and meet great-grandchildren.  Brad and Kiera also discuss the importance of bystander CPR, the emotional side of rescue work, and why first responders rarely get to see the full impact of the lives they help save. The episode is a reminder that the rescue may end when the patient is handed off, but the story often continues for years afterward.  For rescuers, healthcare professionals, and everyday people alike, the message is simple: “learn CPR, be prepared, and be willing to step forward when someone needs you.” Enjoy. Get the book, The Saved Effect https://thesavedeffect.com/ Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:  READYBAR https://getreadybar.com/ Switlik https://switlik.com/ We also have some amazing companies supporting The Real ResQ. These brands offer you exclusive discounts when you use our code, and when you do, you’re helping to support the show. To check out the full list of these supportive brands and the deals they offer, head over to TheRealResQ.com. Follow The Real ResQ for all updates on Facebook, Instagram or visit TheRealResQ.com

In this special finale of The Real ResQ Podcast's six-part series, "What It Takes to Become a Hoist Operator," host Jason Quinn sits down with three men who helped shape his own career in helicopter rescue: Dan Cancetty, Pat Barber, and Joe Martin. Together, they bring decades of experience spanning military, civilian, offshore, law enforcement, firefighting, search and rescue, and international helicopter operations. Unlike the previous episodes that focused on specific agencies and organizations, this conversation takes a broader look at the profession itself. Drawing from careers that have taken them around the world, the group discusses the many different paths that can lead to the cabin door—from the U.S. Coast Guard and military aviation to fire departments, EMS, law enforcement aviation units, utility helicopter operations, and civilian rescue programs. The guests share their own stories of how they became hoist operators, including flood rescues in Honduras, Coast Guard search and rescue missions in Alaska, offshore operations in the Gulf of Mexico, international training programs, and countless real-world rescues performed under some of the most demanding conditions imaginable. Along the way, they reflect on the mentors who shaped them, the lessons learned from mistakes, and the importance of remaining a student no matter how much experience you accumulate. The conversation dives deep into what aspiring hoist operators can do to prepare themselves for the profession. Topics include medical training, rope rescue, firefighting, law enforcement aviation, cross-training opportunities, aircraft knowledge, emergency procedures, crew resource management, and the mindset required to safely operate in high-risk environments. The group emphasizes that while there is no single roadmap to becoming a hoist operator, the common traits among successful operators remain the same: humility, professionalism, curiosity, discipline, and a commitment to continuous learning. Listeners will also hear stories from years spent teaching hoist operations around the world, working with agencies ranging from sheriff's departments and DEA aviation units to military organizations and international rescue programs. The discussion highlights how different organizations may approach the job differently, but the core principles of safety, communication, teamwork, and service remain universal. Whether you're already flying, working in public safety, considering a career in rescue aviation, or simply fascinated by the world of helicopter rescue, this episode offers invaluable insight from four professionals who have collectively spent decades learning, teaching, and refining the craft. More than anything, this episode serves as a reminder that becoming a hoist operator isn't about mastering a checklist—it's about committing yourself to a lifetime of learning, responsibility, and service to others. Enjoy! Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:  READYBAR https://getreadybar.com/ We also have some amazing companies supporting The Real ResQ. These brands offer you exclusive discounts when you use our code, and when you do, you’re helping to support the show. To check out the full list of these supportive brands and the deals they offer, head over to TheRealResQ.com. Follow The Real ResQ for all updates on Facebook, Instagram or visit TheRealResQ.com

In this episode of The Real ResQ Podcast, host Jason Quinn continues the "What It Takes to Become a Hoist Operator" series with two guests from Australia who represent both the volunteer and professional sides of helicopter rescue operations: Kane Treloar of Life Saving Victoria and Peter McDonell of CHC Helicopters. Together, they provide a fascinating look at the uniquely Australian pathway into rescue aviation—a journey that often begins not in a helicopter, but on the beach. Kane shares how he started as a volunteer surf lifesaver at just 13 years old before progressing through the ranks to become a rescue swimmer and eventually a hoist operator aboard the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter. He explains how Australia's surf lifesaving organizations have built a world-class volunteer rescue system that has been protecting coastal communities for decades while also developing the next generation of rescue aviation professionals. Peter discusses his own path from surf lifesaving to a 20-plus-year career with CHC Helicopters, one of the world's leading helicopter operators. He explains why many of Australia's most successful hoist operators and rescue crew members begin their careers as rescue swimmers, developing water confidence, decision-making skills, and real-world rescue experience long before stepping into the hoist operator role. The conversation explores the selection process, training requirements, and mindset needed to become a hoist operator. From fitness testing and psychological evaluations to aircraft systems knowledge, confined-area operations, and overwater rescues, the guests explain why technical skill alone isn't enough. Curiosity, adaptability, professionalism, and the ability to think several steps ahead are often what separate good operators from great ones. Kane and Peter also discuss the importance of mentorship, continuous learning, and maintaining the humility to recognize that qualification is only the beginning. As they explain, earning your certification isn't the finish line—it's simply your license to start learning. Throughout the episode, listeners will gain insight into the strong partnership between volunteer surf lifesaving organizations and professional helicopter operators across Australia, and how that relationship continues to produce highly skilled rescue professionals who serve both their local communities and the broader rescue aviation industry. Whether you're interested in becoming a hoist operator, pursuing a career in search and rescue, or simply curious about how rescue aviation works in Australia, this episode offers valuable lessons from two professionals who have dedicated their lives to helping others. Enjoy! Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:  READYBAR https://getreadybar.com/ We also have some amazing companies supporting The Real ResQ. These brands offer you exclusive discounts when you use our code, and when you do, you’re helping to support the show. To check out the full list of these supportive brands and the deals they offer, head over to TheRealResQ.com. Follow The Real ResQ for all updates on Facebook, Instagram or visit TheRealResQ.com

In this episode of The Real ResQ Podcast, host Jason Quinn continues the "What It Takes to Become a Hoist Operator" series with two highly experienced rescue professionals from Germany: Simon Kremser and Sebastian Schneider. Although they arrived at the same destination, their journeys could not have been more different. Kremser began his career as an aircraft mechanic before finding his way into mountain rescue, offshore hoisting operations, and international helicopter rescue training. Schneider's path started in emergency medicine and military service, eventually leading him into rescue aviation where he now serves as a Chief Hoist Instructor and Training Manager. Together, they provide a unique look into how Germany develops and trains helicopter hoist operators. Throughout the conversation, Kremser and Schneider explain that becoming a hoist operator is about far more than learning how to operate a hoist. It requires a deep understanding of aircraft systems, crew coordination, emergency procedures, human factors, risk management, and the ability to make sound decisions under pressure. They discuss the demanding training pipeline, the importance of mentorship, and why technical proficiency must be paired with humility and professionalism. The discussion explores the differences between civilian and military rescue operations, mountain rescue environments, offshore missions, and the unique challenges faced by rescue crews operating throughout Europe. Both guests share stories from their careers, lessons learned through years of experience, and insights into the training philosophies that help prepare the next generation of hoist operators. One of the recurring themes throughout the episode is that there is no single roadmap to becoming a hoist operator. Some begin as mechanics. Others as medics, rescue specialists, or military aircrew. While the paths may be different, the common traits among successful operators remain remarkably consistent: dedication, discipline, curiosity, teamwork, and a commitment to continuous learning. Kremser and Schneider also discuss the importance of building a strong foundation before ever touching a hoist control. From mastering communication and aircraft knowledge to understanding rescue systems and crew resource management, they explain why earning the qualification is only the beginning of the learning process. Whether you're an aspiring hoist operator, an aviation professional, or simply fascinated by the world of helicopter rescue, this episode offers valuable insight into one of the most demanding and rewarding roles in aviation. This is an inside look at Germany's rescue aviation community, the people who make it work, and the many paths that can ultimately lead to the cabin door. Enjoy! Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:  READYBAR https://getreadybar.com/ We also have some amazing companies supporting The Real ResQ. These brands offer you exclusive discounts when you use our code, and when you do, you’re helping to support the show. To check out the full list of these supportive brands and the deals they offer, head over to TheRealResQ.com. Follow The Real ResQ for all updates on Facebook, Instagram or visit TheRealResQ.com

In this episode of The Real ResQ Podcast, host Jason Quinn sits down with Brandon Solomon, Andrew Gallagher and Stef Maier from Travis County STAR Flight for another installment in our ongoing series exploring what it takes to become a hoist operator. Together, they pull back the curtain on one of the most demanding and rewarding positions in helicopter rescue operations. Unlike many public safety aviation programs that are rooted in law enforcement or fire service, Travis County STAR Flight operates as a unique air medical and rescue organization, combining critical care transport, search and rescue, aerial firefighting, and helicopter hoist operations. The guests explain how their system works, the qualifications required to join the team, and the pathway from new hire to fully qualified hoist operator. Brandon, Andrew, and Stef share their individual journeys into helicopter rescue, discussing how backgrounds in paramedicine, emergency medicine, and rescue operations eventually led them to the hoist operator role. They explain why becoming a hoist operator isn't something that happens overnight and how every crew member must first develop a strong foundation as a rescue specialist before taking responsibility for directing the aircraft, managing the hoist, and overseeing rescue operations from the cabin. The conversation dives deep into the STAR Flight training pipeline, covering everything from classroom instruction and static ground training to live-load hoisting, water operations, confined area rescues, night missions, and realistic field training exercises. The team discusses the philosophy behind their training program and why proficiency—not simply checking boxes—is the standard they strive for when preparing future hoist operators. Listeners will also gain insight into the realities of working in a modern helicopter rescue program, where crew members may be called upon to provide advanced medical care, conduct technical rescues, coordinate aerial firefighting missions, and support multi-agency emergency operations—all while maintaining the skills and judgment required to safely perform hoist rescues when lives are hanging from the end of a cable. Throughout the episode, the discussion highlights the importance of mentorship, communication, humility, and continuous learning. The guests offer valuable advice for anyone interested in pursuing a career in helicopter search and rescue, emphasizing that success often comes from building a broad base of experience, developing strong relationships within the rescue community, and never passing up an opportunity to learn. Whether you're a paramedic, firefighter, law enforcement officer, military aviator, rescue specialist, or simply fascinated by helicopter rescue operations, this episode provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at the people, training, and professionalism required to become a hoist operator. Enjoy! Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:  READYBAR https://getreadybar.com/ We also have some amazing companies supporting The Real ResQ. These brands offer you exclusive discounts when you use our code, and when you do, you’re helping to support the show. To check out the full list of these supportive brands and the deals they offer, head over to TheRealResQ.com. Follow The Real ResQ for all updates on Facebook, Instagram or visit TheRealResQ.com

In this episode of The Real ResQ Podcast, host Jason Quinn sits down once again with James Dahmer—Air Operations Specialist, Hoist Operator, Rescue Specialist, Paramedic, and longtime search and rescue professional with Blackcomb Helicopters in British Columbia, Canada. As part of our ongoing series exploring what it takes to become a hoist operator, Dahmer shares his unique journey into the world of helicopter rescue and aerial operations. Unlike many aviation professionals who begin their careers in the cockpit or directly in aviation, James built his foundation on the ground through search and rescue, ski patrol, wildfire operations, military service, rope rescue, and emergency medicine before ultimately finding his way into helicopter hoisting operations. Throughout the conversation, Dahmer explains how Canada's path to becoming a hoist operator differs from many programs around the world. He discusses the importance of developing technical expertise long before stepping into an aircraft, emphasizing rope rescue systems, mountain operations, avalanche safety, weather forecasting, emergency medicine, and search and rescue leadership. Listeners get an inside look at the diverse responsibilities of an Air Operations Specialist with Blackcomb Helicopters. Beyond hoisting, the role can include long-line rescue operations, fixed-line rescue systems, avalanche control, mountain rescue standby, patient care, aviation safety, and coordinating complex rescue operations in some of Canada's most challenging terrain. James also shares valuable advice for anyone hoping to follow a similar path. From building technical rescue experience and becoming a student of aviation, to preparing for opportunities before they appear, he explains why success in this field often comes down to passion, preparation, and a willingness to continually learn. The conversation explores the importance of mentorship, the influence of respected hoist operators and why maintaining curiosity and professionalism can open doors throughout a rescue career. Whether you're interested in helicopter rescue, mountain operations, search and rescue, emergency medicine, or simply want to understand what it takes to earn a spot on a hoist team, this episode provides a fascinating look behind the scenes at one of the most specialized jobs in aviation. Enjoy! Thank you for sponsoring this episode of The Real ResQ:  READYBAR https://getreadybar.com/ We also have some amazing companies supporting The Real ResQ. These brands offer you exclusive discounts when you use our code, and when you do, you’re helping to support the show. To check out the full list of these supportive brands and the deals they offer, head over to TheRealResQ.com. Follow The Real ResQ for all updates on Facebook, Instagram or visit TheRealResQ.com