Yazoo County firefighters call in AirCare helicopter

AirCare is a service of UMMC to assist in medical transportation. Be it people, blood, organs or even a premature baby they operate to save lives in Mississippi.

Brad Johnston has been with AirCare for about 5 years after doing emergency work and firefighting for about 20 years. “Severe traumas, heart attacks, pretty much any critically ill person, we transport a lot of different stuff. On scenes, it’s generally trauma” explained Johnston. Saturday, he was part of the group familiarizing Yazoo County firefighters on AirCare. “All of the first responders all over the state, they do a tremendous job. We could not do this without them. They do a jam-up job.”

Brad Johnston explains how to safely work with AirCare.(Photo by David Day)

Yazoo County firefighters work to save lives in their part of Mississippi and on Saturday morning about 30 of them gathered to learn the process of how to call in AirCare safely. Warren County FireBoss Jerry Briggs traveled to Yazoo to lead the class. Briggs has called in AirCare countless times over the years including Wednesday night at the horrific head-on collision on 61 North near Floweree Road North. The first person on scene at that crash, Cortez Jennings, was also at this training class along with Yazoo County Fire Coordinator Jack Willingham.

Cortez Jennings listens closely as he furthers his training with Yazoo County firefighters. (Photo by David Day)

Briggs gave classroom instruction for about an hour and then “Woody” Pettis was the firefighter charged with calling in the AirCare Helicopter. Pettis has to identify the landing zone, a process that includes finding a level spot that is clearly marked, free of obstruction and debris. Additionally, Pettis has to control the accident scene while staying in constant contact with the AirCare pilot.

FireBoss Briggs speaks with Pilot Marcus Eubanks as a brilliant young mind looks on. (Photo by David Day)

“Always maintain eye contact with the pilot of an aircraft” explained Briggs. “Do not assume they know where you are and do not approach the craft unless instructed to do so by the pilot.” Marcus Eubanks was the pilot today. Eubanks began flying on the Gulf Coast in 2005, “29 days before Katrina hit. Then I went to the Grand Canyon and flew tours for a couple of years. The mountain winds [at the Grand Canyon] are a whole other ball game. Its the most wind I’ve ever experienced flying.” Medivac pilots have to fly a minimum of 2500 hours before they can be considered.

The Airbus twin-engine EC145 helicopter has about a 2 hour flight time and travels at 120 knots, roughly 2 miles a minute. “We can go anywhere we need to go, typically, on a tank of gas” explained pilot Eubanks. After the craft had safely landed, firefighters were given a tour of the helicopter and had an opportunity to ask any questions they may have had.

The video below shows the craft taking flight and leaving the training session.

As with most post firefighting events, a debriefing was held back at the station on Old Benton Road. Chief Willingham and Pettis covered the information, answered any lingering questions and a table full of world-class BBQ and banana pudding along with other treats quickly disappeared.

A future Yazoo County firefighter was also on hand to observe the training session. (Photo by David Day)