Nobody looks forward to a medical emergency that requires immediate care. But when it happens, it’s comforting to know that skilled professionals will be there to tend to your ailment and speed you to the nearest health facility – whether by ground or by air.
That’s what makes LifeFlight of Maine such an invaluable service, especially in the northeast’s most sparsely-populated state. Census figures indicate that Maine is home to about 1.33 million people, spread out over more than 35,000 square miles – almost large enough to envelope all of the other New England states combined. So when someone in a remote, rural community – a Parsonsfield or a Newfield – needs to be rushed to a hospital quickly for complex, quality care, the two helicopters manned by LifeFlight personnel are often their best recourse.
One only hopes that a helicopter is available in such times of distress; two is a small number, especially considering the distances they often must traverse in order to transport patients to a hospital.
Which is why it was heartening to learn that a third LifeFlight helicopter will soon be located in York County, pending a $1 million funding gap. The LifeFlight Foundation is tasked with raising about $6 million for the additional chopper, and already has slightly more than $5 million in pledges, according to the foundation’s executive director, Tom Judge.
The extra aircraft will likely be located in either Sanford or Biddeford. No matter which municipality lands it, the county can feel proud that, by hosting an expansion of the LifeFlight service, it will play a small role in saving lives. Statistics highlight the need for expanded services. According to information published Tuesday in the Journal Tribune, 1,637 patients from 433 municipalities in the state were rushed to hospitals in fiscal year 2015 – typically to large trauma centers such as Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor, Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston or Maine Medical Center in Portland, although patients’ needs ocassionally require transport to a larger facility, such as can be found in Boston. Flights are paid for through private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid, though about 20 percent of patients utilizing Lifeflight services are uninsured.
Kennebunk Fire Chief Jeff Rowe is among a contingent of fire and rescue chiefs in southern Maine who say that a York County-based helicopter would be a much-needed boost to the rescue system.
“I think it’s certainly a service that the area needs,” said Rowe earlier this week. “It is vital. They bring a level of service most of the locla agencies can’t provide on their own.”
Sanford Fire Chief Steve Benotti concurred, noting that in the past, some trauma patients have been rushed to local hospitals by ground ambulance when a helicopter hasn’t been available.
That shouldn’t have to happen, and we agree with Rowe and Benotti – it’s a service needed not just in the immediate area, but across the entire state. Hopefully, with one more bird in the air, no one’s medical needs will be left wanting.
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