SOUTH BEND, Ark. – Baptist Health MedFlight, the healthcare systems’ air ambulance, will be flying to the South Bend Fire Station #1, located at 4414 Hwy. 294, on Monday, March 17, to help teach local emergency personnel how to set up a helicopter landing site at the scene of an accident. In addition, this training exercise will also provide first responders continuing education credits they are required to earn each year.
Celebrating its 30th year of operation, Baptist Health MedFlight makes more than 490 transports annually from across the state. It is the first air ambulance transportation service in Arkansas to obtain approval to perform Rapid Sequence Intubation in the field and the only Arkansas-based aeromedical service to transport Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumps.
MedFlight is equipped with life support systems and staffed by emergency medical care professionals who work to stabilize and treat patients during transport. In fact, Baptist Health is the only healthcare system to provide a special neonatal intensive care team on flights for high-risk mothers-to-be and critically ill infants. When seconds count, MedFlight makes the difference.
In addition to Landing Zone classes taught by the transport crew/flight coordinators to educate first responders, MedFlight also provides a community service program called Prom Night. A mock accident scene is created to show the consequences of drinking and driving up close and personal by depicting a car wreck involving teenagers in a fatality accident with injuries. The event takes the students step by step through the event as it would take place in real life. From the time the call comes through 911 to patients being transported for medical care to the drunken person being handcuffed and placed in custody to when the deceased is transported away by the coroner, the program’s objective is to keep kids from drinking and driving.
Baptist Health is the state’s most comprehensive healthcare system. With more than 175 points of access, including eight hospitals, Baptist Health is committed to delivering “All Our Best” in healthcare to the people of Arkansas. For more information about the MedFlight, call Baptist Health HealthLine at 1-888-BAPTIST or visit our website at www.baptist-health.com.