Rescue 7
Emergency air travel has meant the difference between life and death for many South Mississippians.
More than 15,000 patients have been transported by the intrepid crews of Rescue 7, a helicopter ambulance operated by the Southeast Mississippi Air Ambulance District (SEMAAD) since 1971. Rescue 7, funded by Covington, Forrest, Greene, Jefferson Davis, Lamar, Marion, Pearl River and Perry counties is recognized as America's longest continuously operating air ambulance service.
The Bell LongRanger 206 L-3 helicopter airship, outfitted with the latest emergency medical equipment, is the fourth rescue helicopter operated by the district since the multi-county alliance was formed. SEMAAD commands Rescue 7 from its medical control base at Forrest General. Medical personnel in the Forrest General Emergency Services Department are linked to the helicopter by radio communications.
Proud History of Rescue 7
The Southeast Mississippi Air Ambulance District (SEMAAD) was formed to provide emergency air transportation to residents in participating counties. Currently, funding for operating the air ambulance is provided by Covington, Forrest, Greene, Jefferson Davis, Lamar, Marion, Pearl River and Perry counties.
The success of the district stems from the effective pursuit of a simple premise: getting critically-ill or injured patients from here to there in the shortest possible time. Since the district was formed, Rescue 7 helicopters have logged countless hours of flying time and completed more than 15,000 missions. Throughout its history, helicopter service has proven its worth to the Hub City medical community.
"It has been incredible," said Dr. Richard Clark, SEMAAD Board President who helped form SEMAAD. "There are many cases where getting prompt treatment saved the patient's life."
The origins of Hattiesburg's medical helicopter service began in the late 1960s. Hattiesburg received its first helicopter in 1969 as part of a program known as CARESOM (Coordinated Accident Rescue Endeavor, State of Mississippi), implemented by the Department of Transportation. The test program provided Mississippi with three helicopters which were placed in Hattiesburg, Jackson and Greenwood.
The government discontinued the program after 15 months and the helicopters were removed from service. But officials in Hattiesburg were sold on the merits of the helicopter and began organizing a local air ambulance district.
"We got the legislature to pass a law allowing boards of supervisors to levy one million of tax to establish an air district," Clark said. In 1971, Forrest and Lamar Counties established the first air ambulance district. The first patient was transported on December 16, 1971.
Besides extracting accident victims from the scene and transporting sick patients from rural areas, the helicopter also is used to transport patients between hospitals.
A Closer Look at Rescue 7
Model: Bell LongRanger 206 L-3
Engine: Gas Turbine, 450 shaft horsepower
Fuel Capacity: 110 Gallons
Gross Weight: 4,000 lbs.
Communications: 800 megahertz radio system
Features: built-in gaseous oxygen system, suction system, cardiac monitor/difibrillator/pacemaker, pulse oximeter, automatic blood pressure monitoring device, auxiliary power converter for in-flight medical procedures, swiveling life stretcher system.
E-mail FGH OnCall at fghoncall@forrestgeneral.com or call us at 1-800-844-4445 for more information about Rescue 7.
