A 42-year-old crewman was airlifted from the trawler F/V Golden Alaska on Wednesday. The crewman was suffering from a hernia. The Coast Guard flight surgeon on call recommended emergency medical evacuation by helicopter. The injured crewman was able to receive the needed surgical care reportedly within 8 hours of the coast guard being contacted. Crewmen frequently suffer hernia injuries while working aboard Alaska fishing boats. Excessive lifting, pulling and pushing can cause a hernia. Vessel operators should minimize the risks of crewman suffering a hernia. Minimizing the frequency of lifts and the amount of weight lifted reduces risk of injury. The facts of this case are unknown at this time. The F/V Golden Alaska was fishing 75 miles from Cold Bay. Weather conditions on scene were 4-foot seas and winds of approximately 17 miles per hour. Continue reading →
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