[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 55 (Friday, March 24, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E691-E692]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


          MARYLAND'S MED-EVAC PROGRAM CELEBRATES FIRST 25 YEARS

                                 ______


                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 24, 1995

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, 25 years ago this week, the Maryland State 
Police made its first medical evacuation flight, transporting a patient 
to the University of Maryland's hospital in Baltimore. I ask that my 
colleagues join me in congratulating the Maryland State Police and the 
Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services System for their 
outstanding achievements since 1970. That year, a total of 197 medical 
transport flights were made with an 88 percent survival rate. Today, I 
want to recognize this maiden flight by Cpl. Gary Moore and Trooper 
First Class Paul Benson which started one of the Nation's first 
airborne medical evacuation programs. Maryland's Med-Evac program, 
operated by the Maryland State Police, 
[[Page E692]] has since established itself as a leader worldwide in 
performing this mission.
  I want to share with my colleagues why Maryland's Med-Evac program 
has become the envy of other units throughout the world with the same 
mission. Since that maiden flight in March 1970, this unit has 
transported over 62,000 patients, delivering them to a hospital system 
that includes the University of Maryland Hospital at Baltimore, where 
Dr. R. Adams Cowley pioneered his principle of the Golden Hour, the 
critical time following trauma when a patient's life is most 
vulnerable. Maryland's Med-Evac program is unique because it uses a 
multimission approach carried out by the Maryland State Police Aviation 
Division. This unit provides law enforcement, search and rescue, and 
medical evacuation, providing a high quality service for the least 
cost.
  Working with other local officials, I was pleased that former Gov. 
William D. Schaefer agreed to upgrade the State's helicopter fleet to 
provide state of the art helicopters at each of the 8 bases throughout 
Maryland. In October 1994, a new American Eurocopter Dauphine began 
operating from its base in St. Mary's County for the southern Maryland 
area, making Maryland the only State that provides 24 hour per day Med-
Evac coverage for its citizens, with the ability to fly in most weather 
conditions. This service has become an intricate, high-technology link 
in the statewide emergency medical services system, utilizing a 
sophisticated communications system to incorporate a systematic 
approach to interface with all licensed medical care institutions in an 
effort to match the needs of the patient with the most appropriate 
treatment center.
  The significant achievements of the aviation division have not come 
without sacrifice. Six pilots have been killed while performing three 
separate missions. Following each tragedy, actions have been taken to 
upgrade the equipment and training needed to conduct this important 
mission.
  Today, Major Johnny Hughes is the commander of the 144-person unit 
which operates 11 helicopters from the 8 sites throughout Maryland. All 
Maryland State Police flight paramedics are nationally registered EMT-
paramedics, possessing emergency and critical care skills with the 
ability to function as complete pre-hospital practitioners.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud of the accomplishments of the Maryland State 
Police Aviation Division and the excellent continuous service they 
provide, along with the emergency medical services community in our 
great State. I ask that my colleagues join with me to commend them for 
this extraordinary record of service to the people of Maryland for the 
past 25 years.


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