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Safety Matters: LifeFlight Lands on Chebeague by Nancy Earnest

On Saturday October 15, Heather Cady, Clinical Operations Director of LifeFlight of Maine, came out to the island to educate members of the Chebeague Island Fire and Rescue about cases in which helicopter transport might be needed. LifeFlight is overseen by Central Maine Medical HealthCare and Eastern Maine HealthCare and will also soon have a base in Sanford. LifeFlight is called when every second counts between injury and arrival at a hospital. For instance, a LifeFlight helicopter can reach Portland from Chebeague in less than ten minutes. They can also go directly to Boston or another trauma center as needed. LifeFlight also has an airplane for use on longer emergency flights. Each LifeFlight helicopter is staffed by a pilot, a paramedic, and a registered nurse. When not on LifeFlight calls, their paramedics and nurses also work on staff at various hospitals to maintain critical skills. All helicopters are equipped with blood, intensive care–level equipment, night-vision goggles, and extensive medical kits. Ms. Cady reviewed steps for our Fire and Rescue team to take before the helicopter arrives. We learned how to set up a safe landing spot in various weather scenarios. For example, under normal conditions, the school ball field could be used, and in snowy weather, an area could be plowed on or beside Wharf Road. The team practiced setting up a landing zone, stood by with Engine 4, and—thanks to the new antenna—communicated very successfully with the LifeFlight crew by radio during approach and landing. The team toured the helicopter and learned about both its interior and exterior features. Finally, we coordinated a safe takeoff of the helicopter. It is comforting to know that when extreme emergencies happen on Chebeague, help is only a LifeFlight away.

Notes from the Chebeague Parents’ Association

As part of its Community Support Series: Talking Care of Our Own, Chebeague Parents’ Association is hosting “Riding the Emotional Wave: Together” Sunday, November 13, 1:00–3:00 p.m. at the Hall Free Luncheon and roundtable discussion

The process of grieving spans a lifetime and is very personal, but you need not experience it alone. Want to help yourself or someone else? Hear from Chebeague’s very own clinical experts, Michael Hollander, PhD, and Janna

Hobbs, LICSW, about anniversary reactions, mindfulness, and acceptance skills. For more information, please contact Erika Neumann (749-8022) or email CPA@chebeague.net .

BIRTHS September 13: Ronan Orion Henchey Holt, a son, to J Holt and Andrea Henchey September 22: Theron John McCarthy, a son, to Kate (Emery) and Gavin McCarthy

DEATHS September 30: Tom Hahn, 67

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NOVEMBER 2016 CHEBEAGUE ISLAND COUNCIL CALENDAR