Don’t forget the achievements of Flight for Life

Re: “Air ambulances can now operate as mobile ERS,” Aug. 5 news story

Colorado was the home to the first civilian air ambulance service dating back to 1972 with the birth of Flight for Life, a Centura/ St. Anthony Hospital, multi state, air and ground medical transport system.

Flight for Life is the premier air transport service in the western states, celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year. With over 150,000 medical transports, Flight for Life has enjoyed accolades and recognition for being a statewide first responder for Level 1 trauma, premature infant transport, rescue operations in hard to get locations and for patients in medical distress needing a “level” trauma emergency service. These dedicated responders, pilots and ground crew are very special people that dedicate their lives to help and serve others in distress. For this we should say thank you.

Flight for Life’s helicopters have been equipped similar to an ICU for well over twenty years. Centura and FFL continues to raise the bar to have the most up to date medical equipment for their air and mobile units and their continuous training of their personnel makes them highly sort after by other systems throughout the country.

“The best part of your worst day” is when you see the Orange Bird in the sky, hovering over you to provide care and immediate transportation.

Happy 50th Anniversary and may your next 50 years be as rewarding to the citizens FFL serves and to the special breed of dedicated men and women of FFL.

Jay Weinstein, Denver