Surprise.....another one

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Children's Medical receives helicopter ambulance

Staff Writer

Children's Medical Center Dallas, home to one of the busiest pediatric

patient transport services in the country, has received use of a specially

equipped twin-engine Sikorsky S-76B helicopter from Los Angeles-based

Helinet Aviation Services.

The $2.3 million helicopter will be used to transport children who need

urgent pediatric medical care because of severe trauma or disease. " The

helicopter joins our transport fleet of jets and ambulances, which are used

to transport critically ill and injured children, " said Dr. Tom Abramo,

medical director of the pediatric transport program. " The helicopter's

immediate availability will greatly decrease the time it takes to reach

these critically ill children in comparison to ground ambulances. "

In addition to Helinet's provision of the helicopter, The Children's Trust,

an organization of young professionals and parents, chose to designate its

annual gift of more than $45,000 to Children's to fund the purchase of

helicopter equipment, such as a defibrillator, portable ventilator and blood

analyzer.

" The equipment will ensure that acutely ill children receive the best

medical care available while en route to the hospital, " said Robyn Epstein,

co-chair of the group's philanthropy committee. " Through the steady

membership growth of The Children's Trust over the past year, we were able

to double the size of our gift to the hospital and fund this timely need. "

Helinet will maintain the helicopter and provide the pilots.

Children's is the second pediatric hospital to work with the company.

Helinet provided a helicopter to Children's Hospital Los Angeles in 2000.