FLYING TO THE RESCUE
Air Rescue provides safety net for area
By JIMMY GALVAN

In an era when people want everything faster and quicker, it is no coincidence that air ambulances have made their presence felt in metropolitan areas.

But now, air ambulances are being seen in the skies of East Texas thanks to Air Rescue, which operates out of Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital.

"Ambulance shortages happen in Jasper County quite often because of the number of transfers taking patients to Lufkin, Nacogdoches and Beaumont," said John K. Clingaman Jr. "First responders get on scenes and call our communication centers and we can be dispatched to help out with incidents.

"In healthcare, when a patient has suffered a heart attack, time is muscle," Clingaman said.

Clingaman, who is the program manager for the two airbuses in the area, said the group started with one aircraft in March of 2004 in Silsbee. A second aircraft was added in January of 2006 Med-Trans Corporation added Air Rescue2 to the Jasper area.

"Our studies showed this area has an aging community. That led us to the Jasper area to cover what we were missing as well as provide for the community of northeast Texas," Clingaman said. "Now, we find that the area benefits from both the aircrafts being so close together."

THE PILOT BANKS for landing at Christus Jasper Memorial Hospital.The space behind the cockpit is crowded with instruments, the patient and an on-board nurse.

The air ambulances are staffed 24-hours a day with a pilot, nurse and paramedic. They cover a 150-mile radius including Center and the Christus hospital in Shreveport, La.

"Our pilots are ex-military pilots and have logged more than 5,000 flight time," Clingaman said. "Our nurses and paramedics are cross trained. We're very proud of that."

Air Rescue will use a 2001 Bell 407 helicopter with a cruise speed of 150 miles per hour.

Clingaman said 60 percent of the calls that they answer deal with emergencies.

"We minimize the patient's out of hospital time," Clingaman said.

He pointed out that a heart attack victim in Bon Weir could be transported to the cath lab at St. Elizabeth's in Beaumont in 35 minutes.

"A ground ambulance would take an hour and a half to get there," Clingaman said.

The only obstacle in the way of Air Rescue is the weather. Clingaman said the company's philosophy on air trips is that safety comes first.

"Safety is number one, and if we can't get to the patient because of an accident, then we have done them no good," Clingaman said. "We don't push our weather minimums."

He credits the relationship that has been forged with Christus Jasper Memorial staff as one reason that the airbus has been a success.

"They work really well with our staff," Clingaman said. "We check with them

every morning to

make sure they

don't need help moving patients around. It's a very good relationship

with the hospital

here in Jasper."

C l i n g a m a n

believes the air transport business will grow over the next 10 years as demands increase for emergency services.

"The census of in this area is going to age," Clingaman said. "I think you will see the aircraft being utilized more and more."

He pointed out that recent census figures show the average age in Sabine County to be 62 years old. According to Clingaman, Polk County is the second fastest growing county in the state.

"We hope in 10 years to still be providing a service that is top-notch from a safety standpoint, a customer service standpoint and patient care standpoint," Clingaman said. "Those three are equally important to us and we take them all very seriously."

And Clingaman should know a little about the air transport business. He started with the company as a parttime flight paramedic.

"I try to make sure I fly once a month to let the staff remember that I know where I came from as well as to let them know that I am no different than they are," Clingaman said.

He even admitted that he misses working on the airbuses from time to time.

"When there no clouds in the sky, yeah, I miss it," Clingaman said. "People appreciate you in the EMS world, whether in an ambulance or helicopter, nine out of 10 appreciate what you are doing for them."

He said there are many differences between air transport and ground transport ambulances, from space being limited on helicopters, to dealing with more critically ill patients. But he said the altitude changes for the staff provides the biggest challenge.

"When you go up and down two and three times a day it can be very stressful and it fatigues the crew," Clingaman said.