[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 40 (Wednesday, March 6, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E251]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CELEBRATING THE 1ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAUNCH OF EMERGENCY AIR MEDICAL 
                       SERVICES FOR THE BIG BEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. PAUL COOK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 6, 2019

  Mr. COOK. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate 
the Big Bear Fire Department and Mercy Air on a successful year of 
Emergency Air Medical Services for the Big Bear Valley.
  The mountain communities of my district are uniquely rugged, and 
ground based responses are oftentimes too slow or limited by terrain to 
provide lifesaving medical care in a timely fashion. Air ambulances 
have the ability to rapidly transport patients to treatment centers, 
and emergency air medical services improve the survival and recovery 
rate of those in need. On February 14, 2018, Big Bear Fire Authority 
(BBFA) and the BBFA Critical Care Medical Air Ship crew undertook their 
first flight. Over the past year, arrival times have decreased, lives 
have been saved, and over 300 missions have been safely and 
successfully flown.
  I applaud the BBFA and the BBFA Critical Care Medical Air Ship crew, 
and their partners Mercy Air, Big Bear Valley Community Healthcare 
District, and Big Bear Airport District for their commitment and 
dedication to bringing this lifesaving service to the Big Bear Valley. 
I wish them many years of safety and success ahead as they work to keep 
our community safe.

                          ____________________