Sanford Health celebrated 10 years of air service Tuesday near their facility in Bemidji. Through the use of AirMed services, hospitals in northern Minnesota like Sanford are able to provide care to those who may not otherwise be able to receive it.

It’s not a bird, plane or even Superman, but rather something just as helpful: an air ambulance. For 10 years, northern Minnesota has seen the benefits of using this resource and how it has changed emergency medicine.

A helicopter crew for AirMed consists of a flight paramedic, a nurse and, of course, the pilot. Flights can reach speeds up to 180 knots depending on wind speed and direction, and the two-engine helicopter can carry up to 240 kilograms. This figure does affect the amount of people on the aircraft, as other important items such as the gurney, blood, and even medicine are included in the total weight.

With the various aspects that go into planning and executing a day in the AirMed program, crew on the helicopter always remember their number one priority: safety.

In order to conduct safe landings in rural areas, local law enforcement and EMS personnel must create a 100-by-100 foot landing zone. Despite possibly closing off areas like highways, this method would still allow for critically injured patients to receive the necessary care in a timely manner.

By — Mary Balstad