VIENNA — A celebration was held Monday evening at the Vienna Base of the Maries-Osage Ambulance District (MOAD). The celebration was for the completion of the new helipad constructed on a …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
|
VIENNA — A celebration was held Monday evening at the Vienna Base of the Maries-Osage Ambulance District (MOAD). The celebration was for the completion of the new helipad constructed on a leveled area of the front lawn of the Vienna base on Ballpark Road. The helipad was completely paid for and the work done by local donations.
Community supporters came out to watch the Bell 407 helicopter from Phelps Health land on the helipad. It was the first air medical service helicopter to use the concrete helipad.
Pilot Jay Watson, Paramedic Jackie Murray and Nurse Zac Briggs of Arch Air and Air Method companies spoke to and answered questions for the local people who came out for the event. MOAD provided a BBQ meal for its supporters.
Besides the pilot space, the helicopter has room for a patient, a paramedic and a nurse. There is one additional seat for a parent of a child, or a guard for a prisoner/inmate. Murray said they generally fly one to two patients each day with University Hospital in Columbia and hospitals in St. Louis being the most frequent destinations for these trauma patients. Murray said she enjoys the job she has with the air medical services. “I like that every day is different,” she said. “The type of emergencies we encounter takes a lot of skills so there is a lot of training involved.”
MOAD Board President Don Lanning said the new helipad provides a safer landing in Vienna and it was this safety issue they addressed. The helipad was made possible by donations from community businesses and individuals. Pilot Jay Watson said they used to land at the Vienna Base on a slope, which is harder and also makes it more difficult to load the patient. He likes the new, flat concrete landing area. When asked, Watson said a helicopter can weigh from 4,500 to 5,250 pounds.
The helipad cost about $3,500. Donations were provided by The Maries County Bank which gave $1,000 to the effort, Wieberg Red-E-Mix which donated the concrete, Vienna Lions Club, Steve and Nancy Maxwell, John and Therese Roberson, Loyal and Stephanie Henderson, Victor Stratman, Rueben Wieberg, Don Kleffner and Dakota Hollis.
