Penn State Health Life Lion Critical Care Transport has added a new Airbus H155 to its aeromedical fleet, based at the programme’s Lancaster site, the county that generates the highest volume of both air and ground transport referrals.

The aircraft joins two other Airbus H155 helicopters already in service, part of the manufacturer’s Dauphin family. With the third H155 in place, Life Lion operates the largest and fastest aeromedical helicopters flying in Pennsylvania. Each aircraft has a large cabin that can accommodate advanced lifesaving equipment, specialty medical personnel and family members during transport, and can carry additional clinical specialists such as neonatologists, respiratory therapists and perfusionists. Advanced avionics and instrument flight capability allow the helicopters to operate in low visibility and high winds.

Dr Chadd Nesbit, lead EMS physician and division chief for Life Lion, says: “Critical care transport is about more than getting a patient from one location to another. Our teams provide intensive, evidence-based care from the moment they arrive at the patient’s side until they reach the appropriate specialty centre. Adding this aircraft strengthens our ability to deliver that care safely and efficiently, giving more patients access to the advanced resources that can improve outcomes.”

Life Lion marks 40 years of air medical transport this year. Since its first patient flight in 1986, the programme has transported more than 45,000 patients, flying approximately 1,200 air medical missions and completing around 900 critical care ground transports annually. Nearly half of all missions involve paediatric or neonatal patients.

Keith McMinn, senior director of Life Lion Emergency Services, adds: “Life Lion has spent four decades serving Pennsylvanians during some of the most critical moments of their lives. This aircraft helps ensure we can continue providing safe, high-quality critical care transport for patients when they need it most.”

Life Lion serves a wide geographic region spanning trauma, stroke, cardiac, paediatric and neonatal specialty care, including direct links to Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, the region’s only Level I adult and paediatric trauma centre.