Last Thursday, after three men collided head-on in Rancho Santa Fe, rescue crews called for an emergency helicopter for one victim with life threatening injuries.
When no helicopters were available a Fire-Rescue helicopter had to pick up the patient.
Soon a new emergency medical helicopter base, now the sixth in Southern California, will open in Alpine on the grounds of Viejas Casino.
The helicopter will serve the surrounding areas with 24/7 operation.
The base will be used as back up transport when current bases located in Imperial, Riverside and San Diego County are in use.
"Whenever we can establish a network of aircraft it increases our ability to serve all the surrounding communities." Anna Blair, VP of Business Relations at REACH Air Medical Services said in a statement. "The addition of this aircraft base increases our responsiveness and in-service expectations our communities have come to rely on us for. The fact that the leadership at Viejas, from Tribal Council to the Fire Department, is supportive of this air base location is very humbling. They want to serve not only their community but Southern California as a whole. It is our first base located on sovereign land and it means a tremendous amount to us."
The Eurocopter EC-135 has dual engines and the ability to fly in inclement weather when other aircraft might be grounded; it can carry crew, a patient and a family member and is equipped with night vision goggles.
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The base is set to open at the end of the year.
