Previous Story
Nurses earn medic’s wings
|
Posted on Dec 21 1998
Macaw Helicopters announced that it schooled 29 nurses in 1998 via its U.S. Federal Aviation Administration-approved Air Ambulance training program. On Dec. 18, Macaw graduated the last class of nurses for the year. Acting Director of Nursing Remy Tudela, RN, was on hand to congratulate the nurses for their achievement.
Macaw provided the training at no cost to the nurses or to the taxpayers. “The training benefits the entire community,” noted Macaw president Mike Cunningham, “and we’re part of the community too. So we’re happy to help.”
The nurses studied general procedures for working in and around helicopters, specific procedures for Macaw’s type of helicopter (a Bell 206 JetRanger), use of the aircraft’s medical oxygen system, use of the aircraft’s special medical lighting systems, patient loading and unloading procedures, and even some U.S. Federal Air Regulations.
“They got a lot of hands on training,” said Cunningham. “The nurses not only got familiar with the nursing station in the helicopter, but they all got a chance to sit in the pilot’s seat and check out the controls and instruments.”
He noted that the nurses were highly motivated and seemed to enjoy the training. “They were really enthusiastic. Air Ambulance missions require effective teamwork, and we’re all enjoying working together.”
Over the past few months, Macaw’s Air Ambulance copter has been dispatched to fly patients from Rota, Agrigan, Alamagan, and Tinian
Saipan’s Commonwealth Health Center has a heliport just a matter of yards from the emergency room, so that patients can be flown directly to the CHC which saves valuable time.
Patients have included hear attack victims and those with other life threatening conditions. In several cases the patients’ lives were clearly saved by the speed of medical care provided by the helicopter, a Macaw spokesman said.
Macaw is the only FAA-approved Air Ambulance operator in Micronesia, having invested over one year in setting up and gaining approval for the operation. “It’s been a lot of work,” said Cunningham, “but whenever we save a life, we know the work’s paying off.”
