DMC Children's Hospital of Michigan transport team has expanded its services to include a fully-dedicated helicopter. The PANDA One helicopter will allow the specialist US children's hospital's neonatal and paediatric transport team to initiate critical care services more quickly. The aircraft is an addition to the existing ground-based PANDA One ambulance service.

The PANDA One helicopter, an Airbus H130, will be based at Flint's Bishop airport, making it possible for Children's Hospital of Michigan to improve response times for the surrounding areas.

“Minutes count when it comes to transporting critically ill children,” says CEO Kathy Donovan. “The addition of this asset allows us to better serve our patients, their families and the communities we serve. The commitment of our PANDA One team members to the mission and the community is second to none.”

DMC says PANDA One is Michigan's only fully dedicated paediatric and neonatal air and ground ambulance service. Each year, the PANDA One team transports more than 1,200 patients from hospitals throughout the state, surrounding states and Ontario.

The helicopter is fully equipped with advanced paediatric and neonatal life support technologies, including an isolette incubator. The aircraft is staffed by a team of specially trained registered nurses and respiratory therapists to respond to any type of medical or traumatic emergency.