MedFlight EMT-P Warren McCord at the Newark-Heath Airport in Heath, Ohio on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012. McCord is also a firefighter for the Heath Fire Department.
MedFlight EMT-P Warren McCord at the Newark-Heath Airport in Heath, Ohio on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012. McCord is also a firefighter for the Heath Fire Department.
He gets to fly around in a helicopter, taking patients to hospitals as a MedFlight medic.
It's not even his full-time job: He also is a shift captain with the Heath Fire Department -- a post he's had for the past 19 years. But flying was something he always had dreamed about, ever since his mentor, Randy Osborn, of Mount Vernon, took him on an emergency medical helicopter ride when he was 16.
That was enough for McCord, and he knew it was something he had to do.
"It has always been a dream of mine," McCord said. "This is one of the best jobs I have ever had. I love it."
That is not to say he doesn't enjoy his 19-year career in Heath.
"I wouldn't change a thing," he said. "I still like fighting fires, and I wouldn't trade it."
McCord said the biggest difference between the fire department and MedFlight is the level of care MedFlight is able to provide with tools and advanced techniques. The MedFlight medics see more long-term care situations when taking patients from one hospital to another, but fire department medics deal with immediate issues.
"It is exciting," McCord said. "I get to see so much more in a day. ... I can be in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Cleveland, all over the state."
MedFlight is a nonprofit organization governed by Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and OhioHealth that provides critical care transport -- both air and ground -- throughout Ohio. Formed in 1995 when OSU's SkyMed and Grant's LifeFlight were merged, there now are eight MedFlight helicopters throughout the state that operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
MedFlight uses EC130 helicopters with enclosed rotor systems for greater safety. Pilots fly with night vision.
Licking County is one of MedFlight's busiest areas. There are two helicopter bases nearby -- Coshocton and Fairfield County Airport near Lancaster. Helicopters from either site can be here in minutes.
McCord, who lives in the Licking Valley area, is based in Coshocton and from that location can be dispatched across the state. MedFlight medics work 24-hour shifts, and McCord works at least one day per month. Only bad weather keeps them on the ground.
Because of the needs of the patients they transport, MedFlight medics must have advanced training. That's a challenge for McCord to fit in his busy schedule, but it is an added plus for the residents of Heath.
"I get a lot more training here that benefits me at the firehouse," McCord said. "We make sure we stay proficient."
McCord said flying around all day does take a toll on the body, especially on cold days when he is in and out of freezing temperatures. He can get a headache from the constant drone of the rotors, but not enough to make him change jobs.
"Someday, when I retire from the firehouse, I will do this full time," McCord said.
That is exactly what Newark resident Bob Keiffer did. He retired as a warrant officer five years ago after 17 years of flying helicopters for the Army. Keiffer is one of the four pilots based in Coshocton.
The biggest challenge for Keiffer is staying proficient on the flying instruments with his schedule of working 12-hour shifts with seven days on and seven days off.
"When I retired, I wanted to do something for the community," Keiffer said. "I really enjoy the people I fly with."
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