The twirling blades of the helicopter stirred dirt into the air as Lifestar, the airborne ambulance, landed on the Randall High practice football field Tuesday morning.The helicopter landed around 10 a.m. as a demonstration for students in Health Occupations program.  Approximately 75 students from the Health Science Technology class, Principles of Health Science and EMT class attended.

“We had Lifestar come out so our students could get the experience of seeing how a helicopter would land at the scene of an accident or at a hospital,” Health Occupations students gather around the Lifestar helicopter for a demonstration Tuesday.teacher Amber Hall said. “We also wanted students to tour the aircraft and learn what services Lifestar provides and what career training was required to be a Health Occupations students gather around the Lifestar helicopter for a demonstration Tuesday.flight nurse, paramedic or pilot.”

Upon landing, students gathered around the helicopter and spoke with the crew.  The pilot discussed his training and offered specifics about the aircraft such as what fuel it uses, the perimeter for their flight area, how fast the helicopter flies and policies about when they will not fly due to weather. The flight nurse, who is the mother of senior Kaylee Smith, and the paramedic taught students about her training, how to handle the stress of caring for people that are critically injured, and what types of care the crew provides in flight.

“This was a phenomenal experience for the kids and myself,” Hall said. “I was actually able to go up in the aircraft to see what it is like in air. The students were able to get up in the aircraft and experience what it is like and see how small of an area the team has to work in.”

Hall said many of the students said the demonstration was better than anything they could’ve learned in class.

“As teachers we are always looking for ways to connect what we teach the students with things in the real world,” Hall said. “For the students to be able to get out there in a medical aircraft and touch the equipment and question the flight team was the best possible thing I could have done for them. I think I was just as excited as they were. What an amazingly honorable profession to be in! I think we all in a way wish we could be those heroes that come and save your life when you are in a situation that is out of your control.”