On Tuesday, the 17 students in the Emergency Medical Technician – Basic class through Northern Pennsylvania Regional College, met with Stat Medevac Flight Paramedic and Business Relations and Public Outreach Coordinator Kat Hutchinson at Warren County Career Center.

She presented a program on Ambulance Operations and Air Medical Response, including a Landing Zone Safety program. She told the students about the Stat Medevac aircraft, about the flight crews, and what to do at the scene when a helicopter response is required.

“We’re another resource to get that patient where they need to go,” Hutchinson said. “We also bring that critical care to patients.”

Even in the event that the helicopter is unable to transport a patient, the aircraft brings its medical crew with equipment and blood to the incident.

Northern Pennsylvania Regional College EMT-Basic student Libby Abbey checks the responsiveness of a patient’s eyes during preparation for an emergency medical flight during an Air Medical Response program.

There is a lot to do to prepare for the helicopter’s arrival.

The crew on the ground has to select a landing zone coordinator, stay in contact with the flight crew, select a landing zone and make sure it is appropriate and clear of obstructions and loose items, and continue to treat the patients at the scene.

“These calls are probably high-stress,” Hutchinson said.

Following her presentation, Hutchinson fielded several questions. “When it comes to helicopter safety, there can’t be enough questions answered,” she said.

The students asked questions about state lines and insurance, patient requests, the medical staff on the aircraft, times when a patient can’t be flown, and who can go along with a patient.

A team of Northern Pennsylvania Regional College EMT-Basic students (from left) Aiden Hendrickson, Kaetlyn Bennett, and Libby Abbey work to prepare a patient for an emergency medical flight during an Air Medical Response program. Not pictured is team member Ruth Beane.

A group of students then met a patient – Trauma Hal, on loan from UPMC – evaluated his symptoms, and loaded him into an ambulance that would take him to a helicopter for a flight to Erie.

There was a possibility of the students getting to explore a helicopter and meet more members of the crew, but the weather did not cooperate and the flight was not available. Hutchinson said she would try to arrange another opportunity for the students and a helicopter to get together.

The program was one four-hour segment of the 200-hour EMT-Basic course, NPRC Lead Instructor Jeanna Phelps said.

Many of the students are members of local volunteer or paid fire departments, Phelps said. Local departments represented in the group include Pleasant, Scandia, Starbrick, and Youngsville volunteer fire departments and City of Warren Fire Department.

Students began in August and will take their national registry exams and graduate in February.

Northern Pennsylvania Regional College EMT-Basic students (from left) Aiden Hendrickson, Libby Abbey, and Kaetlyn Bennett, move a patient form a bed to a gurney in preparation for an emergency medical flight during an Air Medical Response program. Not pictured is team member Ruth Beane.

Phelps said financial aid was provided for many students through the Community Foundation of Warren County and local volunteer fire departments.

Northern Pennsylvania Regional College EMT-Basic student Ruth Beane relays patient information to Flight Paramedic Kat Hutchinson prior to a simulated emergency medical flight during an Air Medical Response program.