Airlift Northwest was founded in 1982 after three children perished following a Sitka, Alaska, house fire because there was no way to rapidly transport them to a facility capable of treating their injuries.[1] The University of Washington's Dr. Michael Copass was the driving force behind the service which started with one Seattle-based fixed wing aircraft and a medical crew of one physician and one nurse.[2] It was the first critical care air ambulance service in the region.[3]
Since 1982, Airlift Northwest has had four incidents:
One of the organization's helicopters crashed into Puget Sound on September 11, 1995, while en route to Bainbridge Island to pick up a woman in labor. Two nurses and one pilot were killed in the incident.[4]
The pilot and sole occupant of an Airlift Northwest helicopter sustained serious injuries in a crash near Granite Falls in 2002.
In 2005, another Airlift Northwest helicopter crashed into the waters off of Edmonds on the evening of September 28; all occupants (a pilot and two nurses) were killed.[5]
On October 28, 2005, an Airlift Northwest helicopter crashed during takeoff from the rooftop helipad of Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Washington. One flight nurse received minor injuries.[6]
Airlift Northwest crews played key roles in the response to the 2014 Oso mudslide, transporting 5 injured survivors to area hospitals.[7]
Locations of Airlift Northwest rotary wing and fixed wing bases in Washington[8]
Airlift Northwest operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and flies approximately 4,000 patients annually. The not-for-profit agency is entirely self-funded with a $40 million annual budget. Airlift Northwest estimates that it provides about $7.5 million in uncompensated charity care every year.[9]
Airlift Northwest's pilots and aircraft are supplied trained and maintained by two outside contractors: Air Methods Corporation and Aero Air. Approximately 70 medical personnel, employees of the University of Washington,[11] provide care aboard flights. Medical crews are trained in Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, trauma nursing core course, neonatal resuscitation and Emergency Medical Technician.[12]
^Taylor, Scott (February 1996). "Volunteer Firefighter at Bainbridge Island Fire Department". Journal of Emergency Nursing. 22: 11. doi:10.1016/S0099-1767(96)80062-6.
^Bauman, Valerie (April 29, 2014). "Staff Writer". The Most Important Flight You'd Ever Take. Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
^Bauman, Valerie (April 29, 2014). "Staff Writer". The Most Important Flight You'd Ever Take. Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
^Bauman, Valerie (April 29, 2014). "Staff Writer". The Most Important Flight You'd Ever Take. Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
