Girard, PA – Today, members of the A.F. Dobler Hose Fire Company hosted a landing zone safety class in partnership with STAT MedEvac, bringing together first responders to learn how to safely prepare for and support helicopter medical transports. Attending the class included personnel from many local fire departments including A.F. Dobler Hose, Fairview Fire and Rescue, Lake City Fire Department, and Edinboro Fire Department.

The training was split into two portions: a classroom session covering best practices for establishing and maintaining a safe landing zone, followed by a hands-on demonstration. During the field portion, crews practiced communicating with STAT 7 on the “On Scene 5” radio channel, coordinating the arrival and departure of an aircraft, and reviewing proper ground safety procedures.

The highlight of the event came in the afternoon when STAT 7, based in Meadville, landed at the fire station to support the exercise. Attendees had the chance to tour the helicopter, speak with STAT crew members, and gain insight into the day-to-day operations of aeromedical transport. Beyond their flight operations, STAT is actively engaged in medical research and innovation, piloting new technologies such as advanced airway systems when applicable, and incorporating artificial intelligence to review mission data through onboard measurements and video to continually improve patient care and operational safety.

Community Training
Landing zone classes like today’s event in Girard are a vital component of ensuring first responders are well-prepared to assist STAT MedEvac crews. Proper coordination helps minimize risks during helicopter operations, protects ground personnel, and ensures patients are quickly and safely transferred to advanced care. By hosting training sessions and building strong relationships with local fire departments, EMS, and law enforcement (when applicable), STAT MedEvac continues to strengthen emergency medical response across the region.

Meadville Operations
STAT 7, which responded to Girard for today’s training, is stationed at Meadville, PA. The base averages roughly one flight per day, totaling just under 400 flights last year.

STAT MedEvac’s mission profile is divided between interfacility transfers and scene responses. Approximately 80% of flights are interfacility transports, moving critically ill patients from one hospital to another for specialized care, while the remaining 20% are emergency scene responses. Scene calls typically involve serious trauma, cardiac emergencies, or other life-threatening incidents where rapid transport can make the difference in patient outcomes.

About STAT MedEvac
STAT MedEvac is one of the largest not-for-profit medical transport systems in the United States. It is operated by the Center for Emergency Medicine of Western Pennsylvania, Inc., affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). Headquartered in Pittsburgh, STAT MedEvac operates a fleet of helicopters and critical care ambulances across Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, and West Virginia, providing rapid air and ground medical transport for critically ill or injured patients.

Founded in 1984, the program has grown to 18 helicopter base sites strategically located throughout the region. Each aircraft is staffed by a pilot, a critical care nurse, and a critical care paramedic, bringing advanced life support capabilities directly to the scene or facilitating interfacility transfers between hospitals.