FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT # 1 of the Parish of Ascension, Louisiana

 Wednesday, October 21, 2009   

Air-Med Night Landing Zone Class

Fifty one Ascension Parish firefighters and EMS personnel are now certified to land Acadian Ambulance’s helicopter at night in cases of accidents and medical emergencies after recently completing training at the Fire Protection District # 1’s Training Center on Airline Highway. Personnel from Fire Districts 1, 2 and 3 attended the training instructed by Acadian Ambulance Flight Medic Kim Wesley. After the classroom portion, in which the firefighters learned the factors to consider in setting up a landing zone at night, they got to put their training into practice by setting out the landing zone lights and landing the helicopter. Pilot Steve Singer and Flight Medic Dan O’Callaghan, then covered safety issues when working in the vicinity of the helicopter. The ability of Air-Med to land at night increases the chance of critical patients to survive by cutting down transportation time. Thanks go out to the volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel who give up their time to train and respond to emergencies.