RedactedNarrative: At approximately 4:56 PM on May 27, 2019 while on patrol of the Potomac River on NRP 888 I, Officer First Class, saw a vessel heading into the 6 knot speed zone on the south side of the Woodrow Wilson Bridge. The vessel, a 33 foot Chaparrel displaying Virginia Registration 6608 CD, decreased speed as it approached my location. The operator, later identified as the owner, stated he had a medical emergency on his vessel and was meeting the Alexandria Fire Department at the pier just north of Old Town Alexandria docks. He asked if he was cleared to violate the speed zone to facilitate the medical attention needed. I escorted the vessel through the speed zone and to the docks where EMS crews were waiting. Initial reports from Operator was that someone had a possible neck injury sustained while tubing.
  
      EMS crews from Alexandria conducted their initial assessment and placed the victim, onto a backboard with a c-spine collar. Victim was transported by Alexandria EMS Crews to Children's Hospital in Washington DC for further medical care. The Alexandria EMS Run Number was 19-010460.
  
      After Victim was transported, I interviewed the remaining people on the boat. It was determined from these interviews that the tubing incident had occurred in Maryland waters near Ft. Washington, on the Potomac River. I spoke to Operator, gathering the required documentation to include in this report and to determine the cause of the incident. I was not a witness to the incident, but from all accounts, the vessel was traveling at approx twenty knots, towing the two person tube north on the Potomac River. A small wake caused Victim, to fall backwards on the tube. She snapped her head backwards as she bounced on the tube. Victim did not fall off the tube but immediately signaled for the boat to stop. Victim was wearing a personal flotation device at the time of the incident. The spotter alerted Operator, who immediately brought the speed of the vessel down and they pulled the tube back into the vessel. Victim was taken below decks and a telephone call was placed to 9-1-1 to request medical assistance.
  
      Operator provided all paperwork for the vessel, provided proof of his completion of the boater safety course, and the vessel passed a full boating safety inspection with all required gear on-board and in good condition.
  
      I contacted Operator on May 29, 2019 to get a medical update on Victim. She was released from Children's Hospital approximately three hours after admission to the Emergency Room with a diagnosis of minor back and neck muscle strains.
  
      All events occurred in Prince Georges County, Maryland.
  
      This case is closed.
  