CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia healthcare officials announced a yearlong initiative Wednesday in an effort to reduce the number of injuries and deaths from all-terrain vehicle accidents in the region.
Officials from HealthNet Aeromedical Services, a critical care transport system, introduced a new aircraft at the Hatfield-McCoy Trails at Yeager Airport in Charleston, as part of National EMS Week.
The helicopter, with the branding “Ride Ready Ride Safe” on the side, is being used to spread ATV awareness. Clinton Burley, president and CEO of HealthNet, said the aircraft has a full medical interior inside that will carry flight paramedics, nurses and pilots to take care of patients after an accident.
“When it goes out it carries that message. It lands on the side of the road. It lands at a community hospital to take patients to a trauma center or an advanced care center,” said Burley.
Burley said ATV injuries and deaths in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky are at a near epidemic level.
“Our hope is that over the next 12 months this aircraft carrying the ‘Ride Ready Ride Safe’ theme and partnering with our member hospitals, who are going to be doing safety outreach, that we can reduce the impact that these accidents are having,” he said.
Alison Wilson, the medical director of Trauma Services at West Virginia University Hospitals, said the mortality rate in West Virginia is at an all time high.
She said in the last decade, California had 504 deaths. West Virginia came close to that number with 444 deaths.
“When you look at that population base, to me, it’s just a real epidemic that our mortality rate is that high,” said Wilson.
Wilson said the leading cause of death is due to brain injuries. For that reason, they are encouraging the use of helmets when riding at all times. She said other injuries having to do with the spine and chest can also be prevented just by having safe roadways for the ATVs to travel on.
Wilson said ATVs can be safe when used properly. She said they typically notice young boys want to ride fast, but they need to be using the right size machine, with the appropriate environment, in a supervised way.
“We’re not saying ‘don’t ride.’ Ride, but ride safely,” she said.
Partnership in this program includes the Air Methods Corporation, the Hatfield-McCoy Trails, Cabell Huntington Hospital, Charleston Area Medical Center and West Virginia University Healthcare. Since 1986, HealthNet has transported nearly 75,000 patients with a perfect safety record.