Money Comes As Firm Looks To Replace Aging Fleet

ExxonMobil Foundation announced Wednesday it has made a $1 million contribution toward a new helicopter for Memorial Hermann Life Flight Air Ambulance in Houston, TX -- and the rescue service says it comes in the nick of time.

"We place a great premium on safety," said Gerald McElvy, President, ExxonMobil Foundation. "Safety does not happen by accident. To prevent and treat injuries, businesses must plan carefully and train rigorously. We recognize these qualities in men and women of Memorial Hermann Life Flight."

Tom Flanagan, Chief Operating Officer of Memorial Hermann - TMC, underscored the need to add to the fleet. "We provide this rescue service to everyone -- regardless of their ability to pay -- and we want to continue to do so. That's why we've initiated a fundraising campaign to help us meet the increased demand for this great service."

The new helicopter will allow faster service to the east Houston area. The grant represents approximately 15 percent of the seven million dollar total cost of a new Life Flight helicopter, including land for the base location, hanger and outfitting equipment, according to an ExxonMobil press release.

Life Flight told the Baytown Sun the new fleet addition will serve industries and communities along the ship channel east of Houston.

"The system will also spend $500,000 to build an additional helipad near Baytown -- a project that could cut response times to the area by nearly 30 percent," said Life Flight Director Will David. "Right now, from the time we get the call to the time we land in Baytown is about 15 minutes coming from our south base. But we feel like we can shave time off that by being based in that area. It'll save lives, and we're really excited about that."

The new helicopter will be used to respond to calls from citizens in Baytown and Chambers County, as well as employees at refineries and plants in the Ship Channel corridor, David said.

"We already do come out there a lot," he said. "I wouldn't say its mostly industry-related calls. It's primarily motor vehicle accidents and people having strokes."

Not only will the new helicopter improve response times, but it will also allow Life Flight paramedics to serve more critically injured patients. Approximately 100 calls a year go unanswered.

"Between 30 and 45 of the estimated 3,000 calls received last year were from along the Houston Ship Channel," said Flanagan

The base rate for a Life Flight ride is between $6,000 and $7,000, David said, "but nearly half of patients who use the service are underinsured or have no insurance."

Life Flight receives no federal, state or local funding and is entirely funded by Memorial Hermann and donations.

"It's definitely something we do because we feel like it benefits the community as a whole," David said. "If you get severely traumatized patients to a Level One trauma center within an hour, their chances for survival go up tremendously."

System administrators initially approached Conoco Phillips and Marathon Oil Corporation to help promote fundraising with other oil and petroleum companies.

That call was answered almost immediately, Marathon spokesman Michael Trevino said. So far, nearly $25 million of the $36 million goal has been raised.

"It was no surprise that companies like BP, Exxon Mobil, Conoco Phillips and Shell would step up with (donations of) $1 million each," Trevino said. "The potential value for our employees is here."

Life Flight was established in 1976 as only the second helicopter air medical program in the United States. Now into its thirtieth year of operation, the men and women of Life Flight have flown more than 110,000 missions.

Life Flight currently operates four air medical helicopters in the Southeast Texas area: three Eurocopter BK117s and one BO105. Both types of aircraft are capable of carrying two patients and a three-man crew: a pilot, nurse and paramedic.

The aging fleet will soon be replaced by state-of-the-art helicopters with GPS landing systems. The new aircraft will also be approximately 25 percent more fuel efficient, offering an average fuel savings of $37,000 per aircraft each year, according to the agency.

FMI: www.hermannlifeflight.com, www.exxonmobil.com