U.S. Customs and Border Protection staff provided immediate medical care to two people after a vehicle rolled over on the I-5 expressway near the Peace Arch Port of Entry Sunday.
A news release issued by CBP on Tuesday indicates an officer arrived on scene at about 10:45 a.m., and noticed the vehicle's passenger had "a large avulsion on her right palm with the skin completely removed."
The officer – a CBP emergency medical technician (EMT) – applied a trauma bandage to control the bleeding and direct pressure. At the same time, another EMT completed a rapid trauma assessment on the driver and stabilized the head and cervical spine.
The border-patrol staff provided ongoing care until the Whatcom County Fire Department arrived and extricated both passengers and transported them to a hospital in Bellingham.
CBP could not confirm the patients' nationalities, but said the vehicle had Washington plates.
"CBP officers are well-trained and prepared to deal with a variety of medical emergencies," said area port director Ken Williams. "The CBP officers who immediately responded to this incident demonstrated CBP's commitment to public safety. Their efforts are a perfect example of their dedication to the CBP mission and community they serve."