Blank Children's Hospital New Neonatal & Pediatric Critical Care Ambulance

 New Life Flight Helicopter 

 Come see the new Blank Children's Hospital Neonatal & Pediatric Critical Care Ambulance and the new Life Flight Helicopter on Monday, October 5.

 What: UnityPoint Health - Des Moines introduces the two newest members of their transportation fleet. Community and staff are invited to see up close the new Life Flight helicopter and Pediatric Ambulance.

 When: 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 5, 2009
From 1 to 2:30 p.m. media is invited to participate in ride-alongs in either the helicopter or ambulance. Please let us know if you are interested and we can work with you to set that up.

 Where: Iowa Methodist Medical Center/Blank Children's Hospital
Helipad in the North lot
1200 Pleasant Street, Des Moines

 About the New Ambulance:
The Blank Children's Hospital Neonatal & Pediatric Critical Care Ambulance is the only one of its kind in the region. Its purpose is for the transport of critically-ill and injured children and infants. Our specialized pediatric and neonatal transport teams accompany the ambulance to provide specialized care for infants and children. The Ambulance was solely made possible because of the generosity of donors - Variety The Children's Charity, The Iowa Clinic, City of West Des Moines, R&R Realty and West Des Moines EMS Association.

 Features of the pediatric ambulance:

• Generator enables ambulance to run independently of the engine, if needed, in emergency situations.
• Can accommodate more than one child at a time or two infants in addition to the parents.
• Five seats for providers to ensure that the patient receives the best care while in transport.
• Quad cab enables family members to ride safely with their child.
• Child-friendly features such as a mini-television with DVD for use as distraction or in less-critical situations.
• Fully equipped to meet the standards outlined in the American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement (Pediatrics; 124; July 2009).

 About the New Life Flight:
For 30 years Life Flight has been providing quality, rapid air transport for critically-ill and injured patients. The new EC 145 helicopter was selected because of its reputation for safe and effective medical transport. Other major medical institutions such as Mayo Clinic, Vanderbilt and Stanford use the same model.

 Features of Life Flight:

• A more spacious cabin allows for full-patient access optimizing care delivery. Largest medical helicopter in the state.
• The ability to carry two patients or for a family member of a patient being transported.
• Three crew seats to enable crew mix configuration to meet specific patient needs.
• Powerful twin engines with maximum cruise speed of 167 miles per hour.
• Modern glass cockpit with night vision goggle capability, terrain avoidance warning system and IFR capabilities allowing safer transport in various weather conditions.

With the arrival of the helicopter and pediatric ambulance to our current fleet and specialty teams, UnityPoint Health - Des Moines has a transportation service unmatched by any other hospital in the state!