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Mastic Beach Ambulance Hosts Aviation Training with SCPD

This article is a direct street report from our correspondent and has not been edited by the 1st Responder newsroom.

MASTIC BEACH, NY - Mastic Beach Ambulance Co. recently hosted a joint MedEvac training session with the Suffolk County Police Aviation section as well as local first responders from Mastic and South Country Ambulance Companies. The training served to teach members of the ambulance companies as well as the Mastic Beach EMS Youth Squad proper procedures and handling for a scenario when a MedEvac is needed to transport a patient to a trauma center.

The Suffolk County PD Aviation section handles most MedEvac requests in Suffolk County. The police department operates with Stony Brook University Hospital to make this program a success. Stony Brook Hospital provides a flight medic for each of the MedEvac assignments. In addition, a flight medic will generally be staffed on the helicopter for other deployments and trainings in case the helicopter were to be redirected to a MedEvac during or after the prior mission.

This particular training had the MedEvac land at William Floyd High School. Once on the ground, the crew made sure to do their post flight shut down before disembarking to give the training. EMS personnel went over things such as how to approach the helicopter, safety when it comes to the stretcher, loading the patient, etc. The Suffolk PD crew talked a little about the priority of missions that they go on, and when a MedEvac call would supersede a police mission. After the lecture portion of the training, EMS and Youth Squad members were given the opportunity to explore the equipment in the helicopter and ask questions.

The Suffolk County PD has four helicopters which are stationed between two bases, Aviation Base at Long Island McArthur Airport and Aviation East out in West Hampton. The department flys hundreds of missions every year between Police, Search & Rescue, and MedEvac calls.

Thank you to Mastic Beach Ambulance and Suffolk Police for allowing us to attend this insightful training.

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JOHN WALTHERSSenior Correspondent

No information from the author.