Airlift Northwest opens base in Bremerton
The Olympic Peninsula's growing population, coupled with the region's worsening traffic, prompted the action.
Airlift Northwest, a Pacific Northwest air medical transport provider, has expanded its services and capabilities on the Olympic Peninsula and surrounding communities with today's opening of a new base at the Bremerton National Airport.
“We look forward to joining the Bremerton community, working closely with first responders and being available 24/7 to transport critically ill and injured patients to the best care for their medical condition,” said Chris Martin, executive director, Airlift Northwest. The Olympic Peninsula's growing population and increasing traffic congestion heightens the need for air medical transport for emergent and critical patients, she said.
“This is a great addition to our airport and industrial park facilities,” said Jim Rothlin, chief executive officer at the Port of Bremerton. “We were very happy to find this perfect location for Airlift and provide the facilities that they needed to carry out their operations.”
In trauma situations, timing is crucial. In coordination with local first responders and hospitals, the Airlift Northwest helicopter can get sick patients to their destination for care within minutes.
Airlift Northwest’s Agusta A109E helicopter, Airlift 2, previously based at Boeing Field in Seattle, will be repositioned to its new home in Bremerton. The aircraft based at Boeing Field in Seattle includes a Learjet and a new Pilatus PC-12 is expected in early 2018. Airlift 2 is a flying intensive care unit that travels at 150 mph to provide timely critical care 24/7. In addition, blood and plasma products are available on the aircraft, which can save precious time and lives while patients are en route to the hospital.
All aviation services, pilots and mechanics are provided by Air Methods Corporation and Aero Air. Airlift Northwest is fully accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems.
Since Airlift Northwest’s inception 35 years ago, they have flown more than 100,000 patients, now averaging about 3,800 patients a year. The service operates bases in Juneau, Alaska, and in Seattle, Arlington, Bellingham, Olympia, Yakima and Bremerton in Washington. Each flight is conducted with two critical care flight nurses trained to the highest level and certification, backed up by trauma and emergency room physicians offering guidance and expertise.
Media contact: Susan Gregg, 206.616.6730, sghanson@uw.edu
Related: Medical airlift sets up permanent base in Bremerton - KING-5
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