Helicopter Landing Dedication at BAMC (August 4, 2003)

(Marinette, Wis.) – A new helicopter landing area that will significantly reduce patient transport times will be dedicated at Bay Area Medical Center on Tuesday, August 5. The public dedication will include a ceremonial landing of the EAGLE III helicopter at 3:30 P.M. in the hospital’s front parking lot.

EAGLE III is a comprehensive emergency air and ground transportation program, which provides critical care level treatments during rapid transport of critically ill or injured patients. The EAGLE III program is owned and operated by County Rescue Services, located in Green Bay, Wis., in partnership with both Bellin and St. Vincent Hospital.

Prior to the new BAMC pad area being established, the landing area was located at the Marinette YMCA parking lot. Patients would have to be transported from the BAMC emergency room over to the lot and then onto the helicopter.

“This pad location, within 100 yards from our emergency room, will save us at least twenty minutes in transport time,” said BAMC Emergency Services Director Jeannie Brummit. “Because the first hour after a severe injury often determines the patient’s chances for recovery and survival, that 20 minutes is critically important.”

BAMC and EAGLE III began preparations for the new location earlier this summer and received state clearance in late July. The first transport from the new location took place on July 29.

The EAGLE III helicopter is a Eurocopter EC-135, one of the industry’s fastest and safest aircrafts. It is a single pilot, instrument flight rules (IFR) certified helicopter that flies an average of 150-170 MPH. The EAGLE III helicopter also offers considerably more space than many EMS helicopters, accommodating up to two patients and three medical crewmembers. Advanced life support equipment aboard the helicopter and ambulance enables the crew to offer immediate stabilizing treatment for the patient in route to any facility.

Not only is the amount of hospital time decreased for the patient by using the EAGLE III helicopter, usually their bill is also. In most cases, there is less out of pocket expense to the patient when they are transported by air then when transported by ground.

The public is invited to attend the landing on August 5 and will be given the chance to inspect the helicopter and talk with the crew after a short dedication ceremony.