New helicopter medical team focuses on industrial accidents on Vancouver Island
A new helicopter team that provides advanced medical care has launched on northern Vancouver Island.
Technical Evacuation Advanced Aero Medical, or TEAAM, got its start in Squamish, B.C., and opened its fourth location in Campbell River, B.C., on Wednesday.
What's different about TEEAM compared to other search and rescue options is that it focuses on industrial incidents, and provides advanced medical in the field instead of simply transporting patients.
The non-profit group is funded by companies and organizations that pay subscription fees based on the number of employees they have.
"Primarily the logging [industry]. There’s a few fishing outfits that are interested and different pieces of industry," said TEAAM base manager Dave Hutton.
"Each day we kind of get somebody else who’s interested in being a member with us," he said. "As it grows I think we will have more different industries as well."
The TEAAM helicopter is seen in Campbell River, B.C. (CTV News)
'NEED FOR THIS IN OUR COMMUNITY'
TEAAM will be able to fly to some of the most remote locations on northern Vancouver Island to attend industrial accidents and medical situations.
Its team members are volunteers who are on standby and who are paid if a rescue mission is called in.
"Nurses, firefighters, search and rescue technicians, we have a couple military SAR Techs (Search and Rescue Technicians), a couple of doctors in town and one doctor out of Nanaimo," said Hutton.
Jennifer Lorenzetto is a nurse and one of TEAAM's newest team members on Vancouver Island.
"To be able to deliver care faster with such a diverse group of people is great, so when I found out about it, it was definitely something I wanted to be a part of," she said.
The critical care nurse has worked in Campbell River for the past 11 years and is looking forward to helping out in remote locations.
"I think everybody who is part of team just really sees the need for this in our community. It’s heartbreaking when something goes terribly wrong, so that’s why we’re here," she said.
Now that the group is fully up and running, the team is waiting for its first official tasking.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Chants of 'shame on you' greet guests arriving for the annual White House correspondents' dinner
An election-year roast of U.S. President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday.
What is a 'halal mortgage'? Does it make housing more accessible?
The 2024 federal budget announced on April 16 included plans to introduce “halal mortgages” as a way to increase access to home ownership.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.