July 26--Medical air transport provider Air Methods will begin operations on Fort Drum on Aug. 1, after opening a station in Watertown last month and with another on the way in Potsdam.
The post has been without a designated medical air transport service since 2007 when Drum's Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic program was reassigned to Fort Lewis, Wash.
But an increase in the number of training exercises means more risk for soldiers and more need for rapid access to proper medical care, said Julie A. Cupernall, director of public affairs at Fort Drum.
"It is a great comfort to know that this service is available given the amount of training happening on the base," Ms. Cupernall said.
The on-site helicopters will fly injured soldiers to regional hospitals. Previously, injured people in need of air transport would have to wait for a helicopter from Syracuse, which takes more than half an hour to arrive.
Air Methods will use facilities at Fort Drum to house its helicopter and equipment.
The company's presence in the north country began last month, when Air Methods began providing medical helicopter services under the name LifeNet in Watertown. Potsdam's LifeNet station will begin operations in September.
While the Watertown station opened first, Air Methods' contract with Fort Drum predates its other deals in the area, according to Ms. Cupernall.
The two LifeNet stations will work together to provide rides to hospitals from incidents across the north country, while the Fort Drum station will be focused on the post exclusively.
"Our contract is going to be dedicated to Fort Drum on a 24/7 basis," Ms. Cupernall said.
The Watertown and Potsdam stations will operate on a fee-for-service model, at no cost to local governments, while Fort Drum will pay Air Methods a fixed rate for its service.
The Potsdam station has been delayed twice. It originally was slated to open by July 1, but was pushed to August because of the need to hire and train more personnel. It was postponed again, this time until September, to complete the startup at Fort Drum.
Potsdam village officials are using the extra time to make necessary improvements to Damon Field.
A new storage area for LifeNet mechanics and medical crews will be added to a hangar bay, along with a new restroom. In addition, a building will be renovated to include three bedrooms and a lounge area for on-call LifeNet personnel.
"Their pilots are going to be out by the hangar 24/7, so they need somewhere to sleep," Village Administrator David H. Fenton said.
The renovations are expected to cost the village $18,000, not including labor expenses.
The rent Air Methods pays the village for use of the space will cover these costs within three years, Mr. Fenton said.
Copyright 2012 - Watertown Daily Times, N.Y.
