Crew members, state officials, hospital representatives and local emergency responders from various agencies came together at the Deming Municipal airport on 26 September to celebrate 10 years of emergency air care provision by Native Air 30.

“Our 10 years of service demonstrates our unwavering commitment to the community,” says area manager JP Martinez. “Our nurses and paramedics dedicate a lot of time to providing the best critical care in the craziest of environments; that could be the side of the road, someone's backyard, a mountainous area or in an ER that requires our response.”

Among the guests who spoke at the celebration was Mimbres Memorial Hospital CNO Joy Harrell, who remarked on the value of the programme and what it means to the Deming community and beyond: “We appreciate all that you do, your skills and the resources you expend to be able to take care of our patients and community. We truly appreciate your commitment.”

“My son was transported when he was a newborn to Albuquerque. It wasn't Native Air back then, but it was thanks to people like you my son was saved,” says New Mexico State Representative Luis Terrazas, adding that his son is now 25 and healthy thanks to that lifesaving transport. “I appreciate you with all my heart because I've been on the other side, watching a family member fly off, so keep doing what you're doing.”

Native Air's clinicians are equipped to transport high-risk obstetrics patients as well as paediatric patients. They can also carry and administer blood in flight.

“Because of the many years of doing what I loved [bedside patient care] I have a deep respect and so much admiration and gratitude for our Native Air team,” says New Mexico State Representative Jennifer Jones, who retired from a lifetime of patient care as a registered nurse. “You're all heroes, and I've witnessed your incredible impact.”

Native Air 30 is part of Air Methods and has sister bases in Las Cruces, Silver City, Alamogordo, Roswell and Carlsbad as part of an ecosystem that provides lifesaving care throughout southern New Mexico.