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Students in the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) program at Stanly Community College (SCC) had an opportunity to visit with the MedCenter Air (MCA) flight team with Atrium Health Medical Center in Charlotte.

MedCenter Air offers rapid patient transport and support for Emergency Medical Science (EMS) responders throughout the region with their fleet of jets, planes, helicopters and ambulances. MCA’s fixed wing aircraft are operated by GAMA Aviation, LLC; and their rotor-wing aircraft are operated by Air Methods Corporation. The custom-equipped vehicles serve as mobile critical care units for medical facilities, EMS providers, managed-care organizations and the public.

“Each year during SCC’s EMT class the MCA flight team fly out to the location of the class so the students can see the helicopter and meet the staff,” EMT instructor Bryan Woodard said. “They are very receptive about coming out and meeting new EMT’s and explaining their job and how they both interact with each other on scene. The students have the chance to talk with nurses and pilots about the function of the helicopter, how to set up landing zones, what treatments the crews can do and how fast they are able to transport someone to a trauma center. We call it the “golden hour,” which is the time from injury until surgical intervention.”

Students in the EMT class are preparing for their final skills test and written state exam. Once they complete all requirements, they will be ready to take the North Carolina Office of EMS (NCOEMS) exam.

The National EMS Scope of Practice Model states, “The primary focus of the Emergency Medical Technician is to provide basic emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access the emergency medical system. This individual possesses the basic knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation.”