Helicopter a life saver in Horry, Georgetown counties

By: Thema Ponton/WBTW TV-13 | SCNow
Published: November 21, 2007

When serious accidents happen in our area, sometimes sending an ambulance is not enough.

That's because the closest trauma centers are in Charleston and Wilmington.

But over the last two years, it's become a lot easier to get to those centers with help from the only local helicopter transport system for the grand strand and Pee Dee that operates 24/7

Jojo Turbeville, Regional Outreach Coordinator and a flight paramedic for Carolina Lifecare said the helicopter is basically a flying ambulance.

That means when the nurse, paramedic, and pilot on board respond to an accident scene, the people they are flying to major trauma centers may have a chance to get better care--immediately.

Turbeville said, “We're able to pick them up directly from the scene and take them to the major medical facility right off the bat, there's no delay in definitive care.”

Turbeville said even after spending fifteen years in emergency services, the worst part of his job is when someone doesn't make it.

The best part, of course, is when with the aid of some of the most experienced emergency crews in the area and the speed of Life Care, someone gets to live another day.

Turbeville said, “If you take somebody who you pick up and you are like man there's no way this guy's gonna make it, or...next thing you know you hear you know a week later you call and get a report on em, uh he's up uh talkin' with his family and that just wondrous for us.”

For now, Life Care serves Horry, Georgetown, Marion, Marlboro, and Williamsburg counties.

And as one of seven EMS helicopters in South Carolina, they also lend a hand when needed in other parts of the state.

Turbeville said they go out about once a day, but are the busiest during the summer and especially the bike rallies.

Carolina Life Care also transports people from smaller hospitals in the area to larger centers, like Duke and UNC.

They sad most of the people they transport have serious head injuries, often times from motorcycle crashes.

If you would like to find out more about Carolina Life Care, you can log on to their website at http://www.carolinalifecare.com/1.html.

Helicopter a life saver in Horry, Georgetown counties

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