FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Paul Filla, Lee County Emergency Medical Services
(239) 335-1606
LAUNCH OF NEW EMS HELICOPTER SET FOR MAY 24 WITH RIBBON CUTTING
FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 19, 2004) - The Board of Lee County Commissioners will conduct a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday (May 24) for the new EMS air ambulance helicopter.
The 11 a.m. ceremony will be in Centennial Park in downtown Fort Myers.
Lee County Commission Chairman John Albion will serve as master of ceremonies. He will be joined by numerous officials from area fire districts and law enforcement agencies. The ceremony is open to the public and citizens are encouraged to attend the festivities.
To view photos of the new helicopter, visit http://www.lee-ems.com/ems/photo_gallery.htm.
Lee County EMS provides out-of-hospital advanced life support response and care to more than 55,000 citizens and visitors each year and also operates an air ambulance helicopter. Its annual budget is $33.9 million and it employs more than 270 people. In 2002, EMS celebrated its 30th Anniversary serving the residents and visitors of Lee County. To learn more about Lee County EMS and employment opportunities, visit its web site at http://www.lee-ems.com/ems/default.htm.
Below are some facts about the air ambulance helicopter and history of the county air ambulance service:
New EMS Air Ambulance Helicopter
EMS Mission - To provide the highest quality out-of-hospital emergency medical care and transportation for the visitors and residents of Lee County. Our highly trained professionals use the best technology available to meet the needs of those who require medical assistance.
The American Eurocopter twin engine EC145 air ambulance helicopter is the first of its kind in the western hemisphere. The addition to the county's fleet, represents the strong commitment by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners to upgrade the level and quality of EMS service available to the rapidly increasing population in Lee County.
When did Lee County EMS establish ground ambulance service and air ambulance service ?? Ground service - 1973…. Air service - 1978 and was the first County based system in the state and possibly the nation.
What was the cost of the air ambulance ?? $5.5 million fully equipped.
With the new air ambulance now in service what happens to the current 14 year old air ambulance ?? It will be used as a backup aircraft to allow for near 100% availability when the new helicopter undergoes regularly scheduled maintenance. With two air ambulances in service, EMS is now able to supply air ambulance coverage 24 hours a days, 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Both helicopters have the capacity for two patients, two medical personnel and a pilot. Because the new ambulance is larger, it affords greater room for the paramedics to apply life saving measures to the patients while in flight to the hospital.
Does the air ambulance ever leave Lee County on an emergency run ?? Though most flights are to Lee County hospitals (most often to the Lee Memorial Trauma Center) there are numerous occasions when the EMS helicopter transports individuals to hospitals in Miami, Tampa, St. Petersburg and Gainesville where more definitive care can be administered. Additionally, EMS has mutual aid agreements with the surrounding counties.
In most cases, a ground ambulance is dispatched to the citizen in need. Under what circumstances is an air ambulance used ?? When it is more time effective than ground vehicles to transport the most critically ill and injured patients…...when responding to an incident on the barrier islands…...search and rescue missions with local law enforcement including the Coast Guard.
How often did the old air ambulance get called in action ?? 400 times in the 12 months.
Lee County EMS Air Ambulance Service 1978 to 2004
Predecessor
1977 - 1978 Lee County Mosquito Control supplied the air ambulance service
Air Ambulance Helicopter
1978 - 1989 Bell 206
1990 - present American Eurocopter BO105
2004 American Eurocopter EC145
Home Base
1978 - 1990 Page Field - on pad
1991 - 2004 Page Field - in hangar
2004 Southwest Florida International Airport
Work Schedule
1978 - 1993 10 hour shift
1994 - 1997 12 hour shift
1998 - present 24 hour shift
Crew
1978 - 1997 2 pilot operation
1998 - 2001 4 pilot operation
2002 - present 5 pilot operation
Pilot Roster
1978 - 2004 Fred Ungerer ***
1978 - 1981 Jerry Fiddler
1982 - 1993 Earl Sweeney
1994 - present Carmen Trunk
1998 - present Rick and Diana Tackett
2002 - present Arnold McAllister
2003 - present Rick O'Neal ***
note: *** Chief Pilot
Operations
1991 Flight suits and helmets adopted
1994 Night operations begin
1994 Ground control operations begin
1994 Designated landing zones begin
1995 ARNAV/Global Positioning System implemented ( This is a radio system that allows a continuous fix on the helicopter could be used to guide rescue personnel if the aircraft was forced down during flight. )