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Pegasus Critical Care Transport
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Pegasus is our air transport service for critically ill or injured
patients who need acute care and/or the fastest possible means of
transportation. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week. Since the service began in 1984, it has safely transported more
than 11,000 patients.
For more information about Pegasus please click here.
Each transport is staffed with a registered nurse and nationally registered paramedic with aeromedical training. Altitude physiology and its effects on patients' conditions are a part of the Pegasus training program. The crew routinely transports patients with a wide range of medical problems. The medical crew follows extensive medical care guidelines for all patients and always has access to medical command. Pegasus is capable of transporting patients with IABP therapy, and a Neonatal transport team is available.Pegasus Critical Care Ground Unit
Pegasus crews also staff their Critical Care
Ground Unit.
We provide the same level of care on the ground unit as in
the helicopter. We operate 12 hours during the day in conjunction with the
rotor-wing flight operations and the ALS ground transportation.
Effective July 1, 2000, Pegasus crews began staffing their
new Critical Care Ground Unit. The same critical level of care is provided in
the ground unit as the helicopter as it is staffed by the same crew members and
crew configuration.
How Did Pegasus Get Its' Name?
When the program was conceived in 1984, there was discussion about what to call it. A contest was held where medical center staff was encouraged to submit their suggestions for a name. Pegasus was chosen from among those entries.
The reason for this are based on the legend surrounding the winged
horse.While the tale varies depending on which account you read, the following
seems to be a common thread through most: Pegasus was the son of Neptune and
Medusa, having sprung from the blood of 
Medusa as she dropped into the sea after
her head was severed by Perseus. Pegasus appears again and again throughout
mythology. He was captured by Bellerophon at the water of his fountain and was
ridden by him when he killed Chimaera. Pegasus became the thundering horse of
Zeus, which is why he appears among the stars.
So what does all this have
to do with a MedEvac helicopter? "Pegasus" was chosen because it was different
from most other program names, which seemed to revolve around the Life Flight
theme. It was also chosen because of the stories of Pegasus carrying wounded
soldiers from battles and other life saving stories. While our program has
undergone many changes and several different aircraft since its inception, the
winged steed adorning the side of the helicopter has remained constant.
Fixed-wing Service
Fixed wing service is
provided through contracts with other fixed wing flight services. Currently, the
Pegasus flight team does not staff or assist with the fixed wing missions, but
MedCom helps to facilitate fixed wing transport when necessary.