Travis County Commissioners Court
June 7, 2005
Item 3
Number 3 is to approve proclamation recognizing the 20th anniversary of starflight in Travis County. [ applause ]
>> are you limping?
>> did I read the proclamation or see the performance first? [laughter] the proclamation reads: whereas the starflight program began operations on may 1, 1985, initially serving 7 counties in central Texas. The program is now celebrating its 20th anniversary of emergency services to Travis County with an expanded service area that includes 19 central Texas counties whereas star flight's first aircrafts were a bell 206 b-3 jet ranger and a 206 l-3 long ranger. In 190 the program sold the 206 b-3 and purchased a bell 412 sp. Patient carrying capacity from one patient to four patients. So that was not a move toward more speed, but greater capacity. Okay? Whereas for the first time in 1999 Austin's Travis County emergency medical services hired its own flight nurses and trained them for rescue. Something totally unique to the public safety air row medical industry. Whereas in 1999 two-year-old cop ter ec 135 were purchased after the sale of the previous aircrafts. Vastly improving cost effectiveness, patient care, and rescue capabilities. Whereas on April 9th. 2001, star flight became the first public safety emergency medical helicopter service in the nation to receive the commission on accreditation of medical transport systems award, a recognition that is usually awarded to the private sector. Further in 2002 starflight received a rotor and wing hero I award and the euro cop ter golden hour award for rescuing 24 people in the November 2001 flood in Austin, whereas since is the 1998 star-flight has flown over 4760 mission hours and has transported 5,069 patients in its present aircrafts. In November 2004 the Travis County Commissioner's court approved purchasing two new helicopters that would be delivered in 2006 if all goes well. Whereas since its inception, starflight's mission profile has increased to include critical care trauma, medicine scene calls, children's hospital of Austin, pediatric team specialty transfer, land and water rescues, and law enforcement assistance, and whereas star-flight and Austin Travis County medical services are hosting a ceremony on June 1 1 9, 2005, this coming sets day, at Austin city hall to commemorate star flight's anniversary. We do hereby proclaim June 72005 as star flight day. Let's just do June 7 and June 11. Can we do both? In Travis County Texas and extend the heart felt congratulations to starflight as the program celebrates its 20th anniversary to Texas Travis County, and other central Texas counties and I move approval.
>> second.
>> morning.
>> good morning. [ applause ]
>> there's a microphone on the end there for -- it snapped right off. [laughter] it pulls right off if you --
>> pop it off. Pull.
>> okay. This is good -- guess it's good that I fly helicopters instead of working on microphones, huh? We like to thank the Commissioner's court as well as all of the citizens of Travis County for the support they have shown for the starflight program and we've had a very successful past 20 years and of course I would like to give the credit to all of people standing behind me on both sides of the house, both the county people as well as the city of Austin personnel who support us so well, in addition, we have other people, since we are 24 hour around the clock service, who are not present here today, but they are on duty watching the program or they're at home resting up for the night shift, so we would like to thank everyone. Thank you very much.
>> thank you.
>> thank y'all. And the entire public is invited to the celebration that begins at 11 o'clock on Saturday...
>> 11:30.
>> 11:30. I知 normally early at these events anyway, as you know. [laughter]. This is at the new city hall, everybody is invite and we look forward to the opportunity to join you. Thanks for 20 years of dedication, hard work, service to residents of central Texas, not only Travis County.
>> john, I want to throw in a few words on that. We have been seriously reminded within the last month of the amazing mission of the folks at starflight. Thanks goodness starflight was there when several members of our legislative family were injured in another county and starflight was there to bring them to brackenridge hospital, and y'all made the website related to fighting fires out in western Travis County a situation out in the steiner ranch area that could have been so much more serious but we have the bucket that is able to scoop up water and help fight fires, so they have multiple missions and every time it floods when you think who is going to be out there making sure that people get out of trouble, starflight has been there time after time after time and they are a vital part of the Austin-Travis County emergency medical services system. And y'all are just jewels in this crown jewel that we've got called e.m.s., so we thank you.
>> judge, I知 a little concerned. For two years they've been trying to get me up in this... [laughter]... Been trying to get me up in this piece of machinery that has a million moving parts going different directions with the lowest bid, and now I see -- and now I see my pilot limping out here. I will say that things are not making me feel the most safe in this deal. I mean -- [laughter]
>> you're supposed to fly tomorrow, aren't you?
>> that's what I知 talking about, tomorrow I知 supposed to be flying.
>> when is this vent supposed to take...
>> [inaudible]
>> I may need to put all of your pilots through and a jilt program to see who I want in that copter tomorrow.
>> 60% function.
>> well, I think I知 going to reserve that flight until we get the brand-new helicopter. I知 not going to -- Commissioner, you can go ahead and fly with the old boys, I would like to see the new boys, sit back and wait -- but y'all have done an excellent job, I know the citizens of Travis County and other counties surrounding us, as far as service area are very appreciative of the hard work that you have done and continue to demonstrate and I think we all have a lot to be proud by having the kind of e.m.s. Service provide throughout the entire area.
>> thank you.
>> I would like to add the list of -- believe me, Commissioner, he will be fine but -- I can see how easy it is for him to pick that thing up. I would just like to add that starflight has done wonderful things over the last 20 years but it has not been because of the effort you guys have made and nice to be in a manager position where you have the political support to do what we need to do to make the program successful and to move forward, certainly I want to recognize that you guys, and pass Commissioners, have been instrumental in creating e.m.s. System and a helicopter program that is a model for the country. So thank you.
>> thank y'all.
>> thank you. That passes unanimously.
>> and we have a beautiful proclamation for you here.
>> do you want me to get that for you?
>> yes.
>> thank y'all.
>> thank you very much.
>> thank you.
>> I知 not feeling good about this.
>> what time does this occur?
>> 2 o'clock.
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Last Modified:
Wednesday, June 8, 2005 7:12 AM