KRNV News 4 Goes Behind-the-Scenes with Care Flight
When emergency strikes, Care Flight is the highly-trained crew of professionals you want by your side. In a recent feature story for KRNV News 4’s Knowing Nevada segment, reporter Zac Slotemaker went behind the scenes with the crew to highlight how they work in a variety of environments to provide essential services and care throughout the region.
Slotemaker joined the crew on a flight to experience what being inside the “flying ICU” is like and was able to witness some of the most breathtaking views the crews get to see regularly. Covering approximately 50,000 square miles of Nevada and California, and 11 states across the western U.S. with four helicopters, one fixed-wing, and one ground transport ambulance, Care Flight reaches patients when and where ambulances can’t.
When not responding to calls and providing care, crews must remain ready to respond at a moment’s notice.
“Our goal is to be off the ground, with any call, in under 10 minutes,” Vanessa Coyle, Care Flight operations manager, says. To do this, at the start of every 24-hour shift, crews run through readiness checks and protocols. Team members huddle for briefings, communicate team assignments, introduce new protocols, complete skills training, and review updates every shift to guarantee they’re ready to accept the call of duty each day.
The Care Flight crew is motivated by a desire to serve and help the community with compassion and care. They aid ill and injured patients on what may be one of the worst days of their lives.
Care Flight and its crew enjoy hearing from patients and the community. If you’ve experienced their services, please feel encouraged to send a digital thank-you message to the Care Flight team. You can also learn more about Care Flight, its fleet, operations and specialized services.
