Penn State Health Life Lion

Penn State Health Life Lion is a hospital programme that offers emergency medical services and critical care transport in south central Pennsylvania. It is run by Penn State Health, with a base at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The site says it flies helicopters and runs ground ambulances.

Services

Life Lion gives 24 hour EMS and 911 response to many towns in Dauphin, Cumberland, Perry, Lebanon, York, Lancaster and Berks counties. Its critical care service moves very sick patients, such as stroke and cardiac patients, accident and burn victims and infants. Other teams do community paramedicine, tactical EMS and special response work. The staff includes paramedics, nurses, physicians, pilots, dispatchers and mechanics.

Aircraft and bases

The site says Life Lion operates three medium twin helicopters under FAA Part 135 rules. They can fly in instrument flight conditions. Two critical care ground ambulances serve patients who suit ground transport. Flights and ambulance rides start from the Hershey or Carlisle base.

Community paramedics visit patients at home after discharge. A special response team trains for patients with highly infectious disease or chemical exposure.

Hospitals served

The site lists these Penn State Health sites: Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Holy Spirit Medical Center, Hampden Medical Center, Lancaster Medical Center, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and St. Joseph Medical Center.

Events and special teams

The site says Life Lion supports mass gatherings at the Hershey Entertainment Complex and Penn State athletics events. Its paramedics and doctors have also joined the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team Pennsylvania Task Force 1. The program can consider landing zone safety talks, hangar tours and ground ambulance events. Its ride along observer program is paused until further notice.

Facts

• Run by Penn State Health.
• Bases at Hershey and Carlisle, per the site.
• The site says the critical care program has moved more than 40,000 patients.
• Team of more than 400 people, according to the site.