A medical helicopter service that serves rural communities in the West has added Moab to its operations.
Classic Lifeguard added a base in Moab this summer and since then, it’s been flying about ten calls a month. Company spokesperson John Gottfredson says having a medical helicopter close by can make a huge difference for patients.
“One of the benefits to being in a rural area is it cuts the time in half," Gottfredson tells KUER. "So rather than having someone fly out 45 minutes or an hour to get to the patients, we’re there in a matter of minutes. That first hour after a traumatic incident makes all the difference.”
Gottfredson says his company’s helicopters also assist in search and rescue operations. They can quickly get to areas that would take hours to reach on the ground. Classic Lifeguard also flies helicopters out of Page, Arizona, Vernal, Utah and Riverton, Wyoming.
