SANTA ROSA, Calif., Oct. 8, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- REACH Air Medical Services (REACH) announces the expansion of their Southern California emergency helicopter service to include a fourth base in Oceanside, California. This aircraft will provide life-saving 24/7 emergency medical helicopter service in partnership with the City of Oceanside Fire Department. Initially the helicopter is responding from a base located at the Oceanside Airport. The base's final location will be at the Oceanside Fire Training Center.
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"I believe this company is a perfect fit for the San Diego region," states Chief Darryl Hebert. "The Oceanside Fire Department is excited about improving the level of service to its community by having such a valuable resource located in our city. We are looking forward to a long-term relationship with REACH as we continue to develop innovative ideas that improve on service delivery."
Sean Russell, President of REACH states, "For more than 25 years, REACH has enriched regional communities by providing quality emergency patient transport, and we are pleased to locate in Oceanside to further enhance services to the region." REACH operates Southern California bases in El Centro, Thermal and Upland (a partnership with the City of Upland and Upland Fire).
Patients transported by REACH will be flown in a new, state-of-the-art Eurocopter EC-135 helicopter, capable of airspeeds of 150 miles per hour, operating under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), equipped with night vision goggles to enhance safety of nighttime operations, as well as helicopter-specific terrain awareness equipment. The aircraft will be painted and branded to match the color scheme and branding on Oceanside Fire's current ground equipment, including fire trucks and ambulances.
Additional benefits include an air ambulance membership program that will be offered to all members of the community. For a low-cost annual fee, the program covers out-of-pocket expenses in the event of an emergency air transport by REACH. REACH will invest in its customers through educational trainings to emergency and hospital personnel, sharing of clinical data and knowledge, and a robust customer service response platform aimed at continuous improvement of service.
About REACH
REACH Air Medical Services began providing air ambulance services in Northern California in 1987. Since then, REACH has established bases throughout California, Oregon and Texas. Headquartered in Santa Rosa, California, REACH provides medical transport services utilizing helicopters, airplanes and ambulances. REACH has performed more than 80,000 air ambulance missions since its inception. In 2011 REACH merged with Cal-Ore Life Flight, headquartered in Brookings, OR. REACH has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Services (CAMTS) since 1998. www.REACHair.com.
About Oceanside Fire Department
The Oceanside Fire Department's eight firehouses provide a presence in every neighborhood throughout the 41 square miles of the City of Oceanside. The lives of over 170,000 residents and visitors are protected 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by 107 sworn firefighters, 7 full time lifeguards, 60 seasonal lifeguards and 6 support staff; all serving with the goal of efficiently and effectively serving the community. The mission of the Oceanside Fire Department is the preservation of life, property and the environment. This is accomplished by providing highly-trained emergency service personnel using the most modern equipment; specialized prevention and training officers; and a dedicated administrative support staff. www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/gov/fire/
