Air Methods Kentucky

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January 1, 2010

KY-8 Base Takes Part in Glasgow Christmas Parade

Air Methods Kentucky 8 ( Glasgow ) contributed to the spirit of the holiday season with a float in the Dec. 5 Glasgow Nighttime Christmas Parade.

Base Flight Paramedic Beverly Ford got the idea to build a float for the parade, submitted her request to Base Supervisor Kim McCarty , and the idea took off flying.

This year’s theme was “Cartoon Characters.” The Glasgow Annual Nighttime Christmas Parade is the Chamber of Commerce’s biggest event of the year and is Kentucky ’s largest Christmas parade with 174 floats this year. The event is televised locally.

Kim solicited help from base Mechanic David Pace, Flight Nurse Jennifer Mefford, Pilot Steven Gilreath, and Flight Nurse Josh Embry. Beverly, Kim, and Jennifer designed the float. David donated his antique John Deere tractor, a wagon to support the float, a generator and fuel. Steven did the framing on the float and mounted the generator below the wagon to power the lights and inflatables.

The FBO at the base’s airport loaned the inflatable fixed-wing flown by Snoopy, and the inflatable helicopter flown by Santa was a gift to the base by the contractor of their new building.

Children of the base staff (and some of their young friends) rode on the float waving to the crowds and shouting “Merry Christmas” while the adults walked alongside handing out candy to children who lined the parade route. It was a chilly 28 degrees, but the crowds lined for nearly two miles along the parade route really seemed to be having a most wonderful time of the year.

To see more parade photos, follow this link to the AMKY Photo Gallery: http://airmethodsky.jalbum.net/Air%20Methods%20Kentucky/PR%20and%20Events/KY%208%20PR%20and%20Events/index.html

Information and photos by John Hultgren

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About Air Methods Kentucky

Air Methods Kentucky is a full-service air medical transport system covering Kentucky and southern Indiana. Founded in 1982 as the first civilian air medical program in Kentucky, in 1995 it became the first air medical program in the state to earn CAMTS (Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems) accreditation. It operates 10 helicopter ambulances and one fixed wing ambulance throughout its region, with state offices headquartered in Lexington. With a mission of safety, quality, and integrity, Air Methods Kentucky is committed to providing its patients and medical and emergency service partners with a high level of care and professionalism. For more information about Air Methods Kentucky, visit http://www.airmethodsky.com.

About Air Methods Corporation

Air Methods Kentucky is owned by Air Methods Corporation (NASDAQ: AIRM), the nation’s largest provider of air medical emergency transport services and systems. The company is dedicated exclusively to air medical transport, focusing on the quality of care to patients, and safety in aviation operations. With 27 years of experience, the company transports more than 84,000 patients annually who require intensive medical care from either the scene of an accident or general care hospitals to highly skilled trauma centers or tertiary care centers. For more information about Air Methods Corporation, visit http://www.airmethods.com.