Hershey Medical Center Celebrates 10th Anniversary Of Life Lion And Trauma Services

4-9-97

Hershey, Pa. -- With the threat of snow behind us and the scent of Spring upon us, join the Center for Emergency Medical Services at Penn State's Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in celebrating the 10th Anniversary of its Trauma Services and LIFE LION aeromedical programs.

On Saturday, April 26, from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Hershey Medical Center invites the entire community to come out and help honor the accomplishments and the history of Trauma Services and LIFE LION.

The community will enjoy an exciting tour of the Trauma Centers and LIFE LION helicopter. Be prepared to sit in the seat of the actual helicopter that has assisted in saving thousands of lives. Learn about the controls and feel the excitement of being part of the aeromedical critical care team.

Tours through the state-of-the-art Trauma Center will give a realistic impression of the daily activities that emergency medical staff perform. Feel free to ask questions about the trauma equipment and procedures along the way.

Take a look at the displays that tell the history of the Trauma Center and of LIFE LION. After the tour, stay a while, have a seat, and discuss the day over free hot dogs, hamburgers, potato chips, birthday cake, soda and much more on the front lawn of the medical center.

Collect souvenirs commemorating LIFE LION and of Trauma Services 10th Anniversary, while listening to KOOL 99.3 FM. Children may get their faces painted and play with the Zembo Clowns. Visit the crash test dummies, the Teddy Bear clinic and the Nittany Lion or stop by the ZooAmerica tent. This celebration promises to be fun for the entire family.

In 1986, HMC received its trauma accreditation and LIFE LION was launched. The first patient airlifted survived a myocardial infarction on December 12, 1986. The Medical Center received its accreditation as a Level I Regional Resource Trauma Center in 1987 with additional qualifications in pediatrics in 1993. A specially-trained multi-disciplinary trauma team, composed of surgeons, emergency physicians, nurses, anesthesiologists, radiologists and many others are available 24 hours a day for immediate response if the patients' injuries require additional support.

Serving 17 central and south central Pennsylvania counties and more than 2.3 million people, LIFE LION provides aeromedical transportation for critically ill and injured patients to tertiary care or trauma centers throughout the region. Available 24 hours a day the LIFE LION critical care teams provide an intensive care environment during transport. For more information on the celebration, call Hershey Medical Center at 531-8606.

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Contact: Nikkii L. Childs (o) (717) 531-3965
Deborah Steele Saline (o) (717) 531-8606 (h) (717) 761-5160