trauma one celebrates anniversary

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NEMSPA Air Evac Pilot Rescues Two From Fire by Jerry McCoy For Samaritan Air Evac pilot Steve Houston, it was "just another day." As a former firefighter and Viet Nam veteran, Houston has experienced plenty of "life- and death" situations. But for the survivors of a house explosion in Payson, Arizona, Houston's heroic rescue is something they'll never forget. And neither will the town. The pilot was in northern Arizona to transport a patient from Pyle Memorial Hospital to Phoenix when a thunderstorm hit the Mogollon Rim country. While Houston was monitoring the storm and the crew was inside the hospital getting the patient ready for transport, Houston saw a nearby house explode into flames. "I was across the street from the hospital by the helicopter," said Houston. "I was sitting there, looking at the house next door, and it just exploded." The explosion blew out the walls and collapsed the roof of the house. Within seconds, it was engulfed in flames. "I ran to the house and heard sounds inside," said the 40year-old pilot. "I found an old man just standing there with a little boy. He didn't know which way to go." Rescued were Ervin Ladewski, 67, and his grandson, Andrew Ladewski, 2. Ervin's daughter was also in the house but managed to get out on her own through a bedroom window. After leading the two occupants through flames to safety, the house collapsed and burned to the ground within five minutes, according to Payson Fire Chief Charles Jacobs. "By his quick action, Mr. Houston literally rescued and saved those two people's lives," Jacobs said. "Our first unit arrived one minute after the alarm, and the house was already untenable." Jacobs said it appears the cause of the explosion and resulting fire was a bolt of lightning, although the fire is still under investigation. Relatives of the survivors were quite astonished at the Air Evac pilot's courageous and dangerous rescue. "There's one guy in this world who is just wonderful," Vicki Ladewski told the Arizona Republic in a copyright story. "He saved my little boy and he saved by dad. He went into that house, not knowing if there was going to be another explosion. I can't believe his courage. He's a remarkable person. He's wonderful." The community of Payson thinks Houston is wonderful, too. A day after the rescue, which occurred March 11, he was honored with a lifesaving award by the local town council. Established in 1969, Samaritan Air Evac, a division of Phoenix-based Samaritan Health Service is the busiest helicopter/fixed-wing aeromedical service in the nation. ii ..... ~ J "-- : "¸¸¸¸.¸2¸ AIRNET The AirNet section provides the official voice of the National FMS Pilot's Association, and is published within each issue of Hospita/Aviation magazine as a service to the Association. Officers of the Association are: Don Wright, President Tom Einhorn, Vice President Michael Burke, Secretary Reid Griffin, Treasurer Craig Lunaas, AirNet Editor Richard Fedorowicz, Safety National EMS Pilot's Association PO Box 2354 Pearland, Texas 77588 Telephone 713-997-2563 24-Hour Toll-Free Accident/Incident Hotline: 800-848-7386 Program News VIRGINIA STATE POLICE ACQUIRE LONGRANGER A Bell LongRanger III that can quickly be converted into a flying ambulance has been delivered to the Department of State Police in Richmond, VA. "We selected this particular helicopter because it has the required cabin room, to accommodate an incubator as well as two paramedics," said Lt. Dave Tollett, commander of the aviation unit. "This arrangement will greatly improve our pediatric care." The police pilots are assisted by a team of paramedics from Chesterfield County Fire Department Station No. 14, located south of Richmond where the LongRanger is based. The Virginia State Police have used helicopters in law enforcement applications since 1971. In addition to the new LongRanger, three JetRanger IIIs are on duty in various state locations. --Bell Helicopter TEXTRON TRAUMA ONE CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY TraumaOne Flight Service in Jacksonville, Florida celebrated its first year anniversary June 10. The service utilizes a BK-117 owned and operated by U.S. Jet Aviation of Washington, D.C., and is based at University Hospital of Jacksonville. Since the start of the program, the service has flown over 500 patient flights, and 50% of those have been to the scene. 20 HOSPITALAVIATION, JUNE 1986

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Page 1: Trauma one celebrates anniversary

NEMSPA

Air Evac Pilot Rescues Two From Fire

by Jerry McCoy

For Samaritan Air Evac pilot Steve Houston, it was "just another day." As a former firefighter and Viet Nam veteran, Houston has experienced plenty of "life- and death" situations. But for the survivors of a house explosion in Payson, Arizona, Houston's heroic rescue is something they'll never forget. And neither will the town.

The pilot was in nor thern Arizona to transport a patient from Pyle Memorial Hospital to Phoenix when a thunderstorm hit the Mogollon Rim country. While Houston was monitoring the storm and the crew was inside the hospital getting the patient ready for transport, Houston saw a nearby house explode into flames.

"I was across the street from the hospital by the helicopter," said Houston. "I was sitting there, looking at the house next door, and it just exploded." The explosion blew out the walls and collapsed the roof of the house. Within seconds, it was engulfed in flames.

"I ran to the house and heard sounds inside," said the 40year-old pilot. "I found an old man just standing there with a little boy. He didn't know which way to g o . "

Rescued were Ervin Ladewski, 67, and his grandson, Andrew Ladewski, 2. Ervin's daughter was also in the house but managed to get out on her own through a bedroom window.

After leading the two occupants through flames to safety, the house collapsed and burned to the ground within five minutes, according to Payson Fire Chief Charles Jacobs.

"By his quick action, Mr. Houston literally rescued and saved those two people's lives," Jacobs said. "Our first unit arrived one minute after the alarm, and the house was already untenable."

Jacobs said it appears the cause of the explosion and resulting fire was a bolt of lightning, al though the fire is still under investigation.

Relatives of the survivors were quite astonished at the Air Evac pilot's courageous and dangerous rescue. "There's one guy in this world who is just wonderful," Vicki Ladewski told the Arizona Republic in a copyright story. "He saved my little boy and he saved by dad. He went into that house, not knowing if there was going to be another explosion. I can't believe his courage. He's a remarkable person. He's wonderful."

The community of Payson thinks Houston is wonderful, too. A day after the rescue, which occurred March 11, he

was honored with a lifesaving award by the local town council.

Established in 1969, Samaritan Air Evac, a division of Phoenix-based Samaritan Health Service is the busiest helicopter/fixed-wing aeromedical service in the nation.

ii ... . . ~ J " - - : "¸¸¸¸.¸2¸

AIRNET The AirNet section provides the

official voice of the National FMS Pilot's Association, and is published within each issue of Hospita/Aviation magazine as a service to the Association. Officers of the Association are:

Don Wright, President Tom Einhorn, Vice President Michael Burke, Secretary Reid Griffin, Treasurer Craig Lunaas, AirNet Editor Richard Fedorowicz, Safety

National EMS Pilot's Association PO Box 2354 Pearland, Texas 77588 Telephone 713-997-2563

24-Hour Toll-Free Accident /Incident Hotline: 800-848-7386

Program News

VIRGINIA STATE POLICE ACQUIRE LONGRANGER A Bell LongRanger III that can quickly

be converted into a flying ambulance has been delivered to the Department of State Police in Richmond, VA. "We selected this particular helicopter because it has the required cabin room, to accommodate an incubator as well as two paramedics," said Lt. Dave Tollett, commander of the aviation unit. "This arrangement will greatly improve our pediatric care."

The police pilots are assisted by a team of paramedics from Chesterfield County Fire Department Station No. 14, located south of Richmond where the LongRanger is based. The Virginia State Police have used helicopters in law enforcement applications since 1971. In addition to the new LongRanger, three JetRanger IIIs are on duty in various state locations.

--Bell Helicopter TEXTRON

TRAUMA ONE CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY

TraumaOne Flight Service in Jacksonville, Florida celebrated its first year anniversary June 10. The service utilizes a BK-117 owned and operated by U.S. Jet Aviation of Washington, D.C., and is based at University Hospital of Jacksonville. Since the start of the program, the service has flown over 500 patient flights, and 50% of those have been to the scene.

20 HOSPITAL AVIATION, JUNE 1986

Page 2: Trauma one celebrates anniversary

TraumaOne claims the record for the largest patient transported by an EMS helicopter - 880 pounds (not a mis-print), and the BK-117 was still able to carry all equipment and crew on the flight. The flight crew consists of a nurse and paramedic, and attending physicians as needed. Chief Flight Nurse is Lorraine Vukich, RN, Medical Director is Raymond Alexander, MD, and Program Director is Jim Akers.

-Universi ty Hospital of Jacksonville

BORGESS ACQUIRES DAUPHIN 2

In April, after successfully operating an Aerospatiale AStar for 15 months, Borgess Inflight Medical Service of Kalamazoo, Michigan upgraded to a 365N Dauphin 2 helicopter. The ship utilizes a flexible EMS interior produced by Heli-Dyne Systems, Inc, designed as a cooperative effort with Aerospatiale and Borgess. With a rapidly expanding service area encompassing entire western Michigan, the service required a fast helicopter with extended range capability. The Dauphin 2 has a cruising speed in excess of 150 kts and a range of over 500 miles.

-Aerospatiale Helicopter Corporation

SAINT ALPHONSUS BEGINS SERVICE

On May 15th, Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center initiated Life Flight aeromedical transport service in Boise, Idaho. Life Flight utilizes a medically- configured Bell LongRanger to provide

rapid advanced life support and critical care transport for the regions of central and southern Idaho, northern Nevada and eastern Oregon. Medical teams are composed of a flight nurse, flight paramedic and EMS pilot.

Michael McGrane, RN, is program coordinator and William Doyle, MD, is the medical director for Life Flight. The service is the second in Idaho. Flight operations are provided by Idaho Helicopters of Boise.

--St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center

BK-117 DEBUTS IN ERIE U.S. Jet Aviation of Washington, D.C.

has begun operating LifeStar, a BK-117 helicopter for Emergycare Inc. in Erie, Pennsylvania. Emergycare provides medical personnel and administers the program in behalf of Hamot Medical Center and Saint Vincent Health Center, both of Erie. The service will provide helicopter transport for northwestern Pennsylvania, southwestern New York and northeastern Ohio. In its first 24 hours of operation, LifeStar transported three patients who were critically injured in motor vehicle accidents.

-U.S . Jet Aviation

Personnel File CYBERSTAR APPOINTMENTS

Cyberstar, Inc., the manufacturer of the Model 901 Turbine Engine Monitor, announced the appointment of four people to new positions. Jim Thomas has been appointed Chief Operating Officer, promoted from Production Manager. Steven Rossiter has rejoined Cyberstar as Marketing Manager, having been with the company in 1984 as a Sales/Service Engineer. H. "Hop" Collin has joined the company as Pacific Division Sales Manager. And George Thomas was appointed Southeastern Division Sales Manager.

Product News

"SMART" FUEL MANAG EM ENT

II Morrow, Inc. of Salem, OR and Shadlin Co., Inc. of Minneapolis, MN recently announced the introduction of a Smart Fuel Management System. The new system consists of a Digiflo fuel metering unit which uses information from the II Morrow Apollo Loran C receiver to provide a dynamic display of fuel consumption, fuel required to reach destination, reserve fuel, fuel endurance in hours and minutes, and fuel specifics such as nm/gal or nm/lb. For more information, contact II Morrow, Inc. at 503-581-8101 or Shadin Co. at 1-800-328-0584.

- I I Morrow, Inc.

24-HOUR FUELING CENTER On-the-spot fast fueling of emergency

helicopters with the economy and flexibility of self-service is provided by Sparling Corporation's In-The-Plane Fueling center. The system provides fuel pumping, filtering and measuring a precise fuel load. Fuel vendor transport off-loads into the storage tank through a fuel-water separator. Flow to the aircraft is through the same filtering system. A water monitor outboard makes positive shutdown when sludge or entrained water is detected. Features include flow rates from 25 to 300 gpm, a lockable, reinforced fiberglass enclosure, and a multitude of options. The unit arrives skid-mounted, prepiped, prewired and flow tested. For more information, contact Micki Harding at MSM Industrial Advertising, 313-623-9518 or the Sparling Corporation, 313-838-4400.

- M S M Industrial Advertising

HOSPITAL AVIATION, JUNE 1986 21