Airlift Northwest Explained
| Airlift Northwest |
| Formation: | 1982 |
| Founders: | --> |
| Defunct: | --> |
| Vat Id: | (for European organizations) --> |
| Status: | Not-for-profit organization |
| Purpose: | Air medical services |
| Headquarters: | Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Region Served: | Alaska and Washington |
| Product: | --> |
| Method: | --> |
| Field: | --> |
| Languages: | --> |
| Owners: | --> |
| Leader Title: | Executive Director |
| Leader Name: | Jeff Richey |
| Leader Title2: | Medical Director |
| Leader Name2: | Richard Utarnachitt, MD |
| Publication: | --> |
| Parent Organization: | UW Medicine |
| Former Name: | --> |
Airlift Northwest, a program of the University of Washington School of Medicine and Harborview Medical Center, provides flight transport via helicopter and fixed wing aircraft for patients needing intensive medical care in Washington, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.
History
Airlift Northwest was founded in 1982 after three children perished following a Sitka, Alaska, house fire because there was no way to rapidly transport them to a facility capable of treating their injuries.[1] The University of Washington's Dr. Michael Copass was the driving force behind the service which started with one Seattle-based fixed wing aircraft and a medical crew of one physician and one nurse.[2] It was the first critical care air ambulance service in the region.[3]
Since 1982, Airlift Northwest has had four incidents:
- One of the organization's helicopters crashed into Puget Sound on September 11, 1995, while en route to Bainbridge Island to pick up a woman in labor. Two nurses and one pilot were killed in the incident.[4]
- The pilot and sole occupant of an Airlift Northwest helicopter sustained serious injuries in a crash near Granite Falls in 2002.
- In 2005, another Airlift Northwest helicopter crashed into the waters off of Edmonds on the evening of September 28; all occupants (a pilot and two nurses) were killed.[5]
- On October 28, 2005, an Airlift Northwest helicopter crashed during takeoff from the rooftop helipad of Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Washington. One flight nurse received minor injuries.[6]
Airlift Northwest crews played key roles in the response to the 2014 Oso mudslide, transporting 5 injured survivors to area hospitals.[7]
Operations
Airlift Northwest operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and flies approximately 4,000 patients annually. The not-for-profit agency is entirely self-funded with a $40 million annual budget. Airlift Northwest estimates that it provides about $7.5 million in uncompensated charity care every year.[8]
Base locations
Fleet
As of March 2023, Airlift Northwest consists of the following fleet operated by Air Methods Corp. and Aero Air, LLC.[9]
Rotor wing aircraft
Fixed wing aircraft
Crew
Airlift Northwest's pilots and aircraft are supplied trained and maintained by two outside contractors: Air Methods Corporation and Aero Air. Approximately 70 medical personnel, employees of the University of Washington,[10] provide care aboard flights. Medical crews are trained in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, trauma nursing core course, neonatal resuscitation and Emergency Medical Technician.[11]
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: History and Qualifications. Airlift Northwest. University of Washington. 18 October 2014.
- Richey. Jeff. Regional Manager for Airlift Northwest. Air Medical Journal. September–October 2012. 31. 5. 215. 10.1016/j.amj.2012.06.014.
- Web site: History and Qualifications. Airlift Northwest. University of Washington. 18 October 2014.
- Taylor. Scott. Volunteer Firefighter at Bainbridge Island Fire Department. Journal of Emergency Nursing. 22. February 1996. 11. 10.1016/S0099-1767(96)80062-6.
- News: Three Die in Medical Helicopter Crash . 18 October 2014 . KOMO Television . Sinclair Interactive Media . September 29, 2005 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130624030011/http://www.komonews.com/news/archive/4165641.html . 24 June 2013 .
- Web site: Skolnik . Sam . 2005-10-29 . Medevac helicopter crashes in Olympia; one hurt . 2023-07-05 . Seattle Post-Intelligencer . en.
- News: Bauman. Valerie. Staff Writer. 18 October 2014. The Most Important Flight You'd Ever Take. Puget Sound Business Journal. April 29, 2014.
- News: Bauman . Valerie . April 29, 2014 . Staff Writer . The Most Important Flight You'd Ever Take . Puget Sound Business Journal . 18 October 2014.
- Web site: Aviation Services & Partners . 2022-07-17 . UW Medicine . en.
- News: Bauman. Valerie. Staff Writer. 18 October 2014. The Most Important Flight You'd Ever Take. Puget Sound Business Journal. April 29, 2014.
- Web site: History and Qualifications. Airlift Northwest. University of Washington. 18 October 2014.
