heavily-treed ar- eas which are very prone to fires and difficult to protect. STAR Flight’s priorities on a fire are to first save and protect life, then property and environ- ment. Travis County and its surrounding area


are commonly referred to as “Flash Flood Alley,” due to the probability for rapid flooding in a short amount of time. There are also large lakes and rivers that are pop- ular for recreational boating and other


32 October 2013


the air, either by hoist or short haul, and to then get the patient to an area that is suitable for the helicop-


water sports. This


poses challenges for EMS and rescue crews, as in some places access is diffi- cult. STAR Flight has proven its ability to arrive on the scene and deploy highly- trained medical personnel where needed. These deployments take place both on land and in the water. Crews are able to access a patient from


ter to land. The crew then can


load and transport the patient to the near- est trauma center. STAR Flight rescue personnel are


trained to operate safely when extricating patients from high-hazard environments, including cliffs, swift water, and confined areas. All medical crews spend many hours training quarterly each year to main-


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