News dropped today that every HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services) professional dreads hearing. For most of us it makes the hair on your head stand up, and for me, at least, I ask the question: "Could that have been me?". A pilot with ARCH Air Medical Services was killed when his aircraft crashed while he was enroute back to St. Louis University Hospital to pick up his crew. Reports are that the crash occurred a mere 200 yards away from the helipad where his crew was likely waiting for him.
There is something really special about being a part of an Air Medical crew. You work long hours together under stressful conditions. You experience triumphs and disappointments together. You typically only work with a handful of the same people all the time, so you get to know one another really well. You share your personal triumphs and disappointments with one another. These people become FAMILY to you. It is both a blessing and a curse. The blessings are many. Ask anyone who has gone through a difficult time personally, and they will usually tell you just how remarkably supportive their work "family" has been through it all. The same goes for the good times. We attend each other's weddings. We remember birthdays. We want you to bring that new baby into work, because we really do want to meet him or her. We really care alot about each other- which can also be the "curse". It is really hard when one of the "family" moves on to something else. Losing a member of the crew leaves a void. You've grown to trust and rely upon that person. A lot of times you have become so close with them that you read one another's thoughts. You can predict each other's actions. It's a very unique professional relationship.
That's why it hurts so much when we hear about a fatal accident in our industry.
We imagine what that would be like if , God forbid, that were to happen to us. How would we cope? How would we continue to go on? How would we find the courage to climb into the aircraft again and do this thing that we love so much? How could we face our colleague's family? What could we possibly say? So many questions.
"Fly Safe" is a phrase we use a lot in the HEMS industry. "Fly Safe" means many things all at once: be careful, be vigilant, be smart, stay rested, don't take any unnecessary risks, have the courage to speak up to your crew mates if something doesn't feel right, don't be distracted, don't get complacent. It also means "I care about you. I want to see you at shift change in the morning. Lets make sure that the thing we all dread doesn't happen to us."
I am on shift right now as I write this. Both my Pilot and Paramedic partners tonight are seasoned veterans in the HEMS industry. I trust them both. I know they trust me. Tonight we will Fly Safe, and remember our brothers and sisters at ARCH in St. Louis, MO. God Speed to your fallen Pilot, and our deepest condolences to your "work family" as you all heal through this terrible tragedy.
You don't have to be in this industry to Fly Safe in this life. Look out for the ones you love. Be careful. Speak up if something doesn't feel right. Don't get complacent. Care for one another.
Fly Safe.
-Keith
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