By Bill Carey
SA国际传媒
WINDER, Ga. 鈥� When a gunman opened fire at Apalachee High School on Sept. 4, first responders from across Winder responded to the scene.
Three crewmembers with Air Evac Lifeteam 117 also responded and transported a critically injured 14-year-old girl.
Pilot Matthew Dine, Flight Nurse Lindsey Chapman and Flight Medic Trey Phillips made up the medevac crew that day, recounting their swift response and life-saving efforts, reported.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just difficult. This kind of stuff shouldn鈥檛 happen,鈥� Chapman said. 鈥淚t shouldn鈥檛 happen in life so it鈥檚 hard.鈥�
Upon hearing the initial dispatch, Champman suggested positioning the aircraft near the school, reducing the response time to just minutes, FOX5 Atlanta reported.
The crew recognized the severity of the 14-year-old鈥檚 injuries and quickly applied a tourniquet, started IVs, administered oxygen and provided blood to her during the transport to Grady Memorial Hospital, reported.
The crew visited that young teen a few days later to see how she was recovering.
鈥淚t was really great to see her sitting up and being responsive,鈥� Dine said. 鈥淲e haven鈥檛 heard from her since, so if she is watching, we are glad you are back home and recovering well.鈥�
The shooting was especially hard for Phillips, who responded to the 1999 Heritage High School shooting that wounded six.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 think you鈥檙e going to do it once and two times is certainly too many,鈥� Phillips said. 鈥淚n this line of work, you have to have a switch to where you can shut your emotions off and be able to do your job. It鈥檚 after the call you have to deal with the emotions you have. We are all parents, I鈥檓 a grandparent. Kids really hit you hard.鈥�
