CareFlite to open new air medical base in Texas
US-based CareFlite, a joint use air medical program, will open a new air medical base on 1 March
The new base will be located at the Buchanan Dam Community Center in Buchanan, Texas. For the first time, Llano County will have a Bell 407GX helicopter based in the county for quick responses to emergencies, including patient transfers from local hospitals to the closest trauma centers. Previously, air medical helicopter services had to be requested from outside the county. The shorter response times will benefit patients across Llano County.
The Bell 407GX includes an autopilot for added safety. The aircraft will also support fire and law enforcement agencies in the county as appropriate when not on patient missions. CareFlite operates the only aircraft in the region equipped with chest compression devices and blood products which have been proven by studies to increase patient survival rates.
Paramedic certifications exceed requirements
Each aircraft is flown by a pilot holding the Airline Transport Pilot certification. All CareFlite nurses hold a Certified Flight Registered Nurse certificate, while CareFlite paramedics all hold the Flite Paramedic – Certified rating. These certifications exceed the requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration for pilots and the State of Texas requirements for Nurses and Paramedics serving on aircraft.
The Bell407GX is the chosen helicopter for several services across the globe, including the Polish National Police and air ambulance HALO Flight.
Clara Bullock
Clara Bullock is a writer for ITIJ and AirMed&Rescue. Initially a freelance writer for publications ranging from gardening news to music magazines, she has made the transition to writing about the ins and outs of travel insurance and aeromedicine. In her spare time she reviews books on Instagram and eats pasta.