Life Flight helicopter touched down at SUNY Broome

TOWN OF DICKINSON, NY ( WIVT/WBGH ) – Some local students got a firsthand look at how first responders take to the sky to handle medical emergencies.

Local freshman and sophomores in high school took a field trip to SUNY Broome to watch a helicopter touch down on the soccer field.

SUNY Broome’s Hornet Institute summer camp is a weeklong program that focuses on local careers in health care.

As part of the program, the Life Flight air ambulance crew landed on campus today and gave the campers an opportunity to climb aboard the aircraft and ask questions about what it takes to have a career as an EMT.

The director of the college’s paramedic program, Joshua VanSteenburg says it’s important to show the younger generation career options here locally.

“This is hands on. They get to touch a helicopter, they get to engage with paramedic, flight paramedic, flight crew, flight nurse. It’s not just sitting in a guidance counselor’s office or sitting in a classroom hearing, hey this is what this career can look like. This is what you can do in this career,” says VanSteenburg.

The Life Flight crew talked to the students about flying protocol, and the type of gear that they have on-board.

VanSteenburg says there’s several kids in the camp that are interested in health care jobs and hopes today’s demonstration only continues their passion.

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