SCORE Journal - The Official Publication of SCORE Off-Road Racing
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/539275
IMPROVING SAFETY to require a full-time medical team of airborne personnel to respond to emergencies in ultra-fast helicopters. As Shier and Dr. Grange tell it, they would have it no other way. "I love it. We get the best seat in the house at SCORE events," says Dr. Grange, SCORE's medical director. Dr. Grange is a veteran emergency room doctor at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Southern California, a level-one trauma center. The view means riding shotgun with Shier, or one of his pilots from Corporate Helicopters, who have the skill and knowledge to operate a Eurocopter AS350 B2. Shier, a seasoned aviator, and astute businessman started Corporate Helicopters in San Diego, California with his wife Deann 25-years ago, and they've never looked back. As the CEO, Deann started her career as an aerial photographer and now manages every aspect of the business while her husband serves as director of operations and flies as much as he can. With 34 employees and several pilots, including chief pilot Gary Roesink, Jon McClure, the director of maintenance, and Mike Duncan, vice president of maintenance, Corporate Helicopters runs like a fine Swiss watch with whirling blades. "Flying a medical helicopter with Dr. Grange is a great experience because his extensive background makes me comfortable as a pilot to know that he is giving the best care possible as soon as he arrives on scene," says Shier. "He's prepared as soon as we land. Before I shut down the blades, Dr. Grange, and his onboard nurse rush out of the aircraft doors and are treating and prepping the patient for possible transport. While they are attending to the patient, I get out and rearrange the interior to prep the medical stretcher kit and whatever else is required." If the incident is in Mexico, the patient then might be transported to an ambulance that's standing by and is either taken to a local hospital, or flown to the U.S. border for treatment at an American hospital. If the accident happens at a SCORE event in Mexico, the patient must have a passport on his or her person to be flown directly back to the U.S., in accordance with customs. "Every driver or rider must have their passport with 067 SCORE JOURNAL