When Minutes Count, Nightingale is Ready
Since its inception in 1982, Sentara Nightingale Regional Air Ambulance has speedily transported more than 16,000 gravely injured patients, such as aneurysm victim Pat Jackson (see related Network article), to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital -- one of the most advanced Level I Trauma Centers in Virginia.
When someone in Nightingale’s service area — which spans from Greater Hampton Roads to northeastern North Carolina — experiences a life-threatening illness or injury and needs emergency treatment, Sentara’s critical care and rapid transport helicopter cuts vital minutes off the trip. What would take 45 minutes by ground takes only 10 minutes by air.
Staffed by a team of six nurses, 10 paramedics, four pilots and two mechanics, Nightingale crew members are trained and equipped to provide a higher level of care than can be delivered on an ambulance, essentially making the helicopter a flying ICU.
Despite what often are troubling circumstances on the ground, crew members stay focused on the task at hand.
John Tucker, a paramedic with Nightingale, explained, “In our position we have to be a little emotionally detached and look at things from a clinical approach because we want to do what’s in the best interest of the patient and increase their chance of recovery.”
Providing expert, professional care does not mean its void of compassion.
“But of course at the back of your mind you’re always thinking ‘How will this impact a family…?’” said Tucker. “We never forget we are treating somebody’s loved one.”
Because Nightingale is such a vital, well-used resource for the community and is currently in its 27th year of service, planning is underway to replace it with a newer, state-of-the-art helicopter in 2011.
Learn more about Nightingale.
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