Because we live only four blocks from St. Mary's
Hospital Regional Medical Center, the Careflight
helicopter flies near our house several times per
day. From a local website:
"CareFlight has one of the most powerful helicopters
available for flying over mountain terrain. With its
twin engines, CareFlight has a flight range of 250-300
miles and can fly at an altitude of up to 20,000 feet".
As the only emergency air-medical transport between
Denver and Salt Lake City, it makes over 1000 flights
per year. Although I hope we never have to use it,
it's nice to know that a valuable resource like this
is nearby.
1 comment:
Tom;
It sure is nice to read your positive comments regarding the St. Mary's CareFlight helicopter. It seems as if we are quite guilty of overflying many residents in the Grand Junction area.
As you noted, the Bell 412 EP has some impressive capabilities that enable the CareFlight staff to transport multiple patients, operate at high altitudes and extreme temps. Although I must share that St. Mary's CareFlight is actually is better described as a "who" (people), rather than a "what" (aircraft). The CareFlight program is made up of over 80 staff that include pilots & mechanics (both helicopter & fixed wing), nurses (adult/pediatric, perinatal & neonatal), paramedics, respiratory therapists, communication specialists and physicians. These staff transport approximately 900 patients each year, most originating throughout western Colorado & eastern Utah.
St. Mary's CareFlight is celebrating 30 years of "Caring in the Air" in 2006 and is proud to be such an important regional service to those that are in need.
Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts as well as nice photo of the CareFlight helicopter. If you'd like, we'd love for you to meet some of the "neighborly" CareFlight staff and give you a tour of the CareFlight helicopter some time.
Dustin H. Duncan, RN, CEN, CMTE
Program Manager / Chief Flight Nurse - St. Mary's CareFlight
2635 N. 7th Street
Grand Junction, CO 81502
(970) 244-1911
dustin.duncan@stmarygj.org
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