A new Life Flight Network hangar opened at the Walla Walla Regional Airport with the goal of getting emergency crews into the air faster across the region. Leaders said the new facility put crews closer to their aircraft and helped connect patients to urgent medical care more quickly. Before the upgrade, crews had to cross the airport to reach the helicopter. Leaders said that added about 10 to 15 minutes during emergencies.
“That’s extra 15 minutes that really impatient could lose pulses, or things can change really quickly,” a speaker said. Life Flight nurse Kylie Vanarsdale said crews previously had to use a side-by-side vehicle to get to the aircraft. “We would have to get in a little side by side and drive down there, and it was extending our time probably about 10-15 minutes beforehand. It makes a huge difference between life and death I’d say,” said Kylie Vanarsdale. The new hangar kept pilots, nurses and paramedics in one place and ready to respond quickly.
KNDO-TV NBC 23 Yakima
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