Oklahoma Lawmaker to Study Medical Helicopter Safety
An Oklahoma lawmaker says the state needs to study safety issues after several fatal crashes involving medical helicopters.
State Sen. Tom Ivester, a Democrat from Sayre, says medical helicopters are crucial in rural areas far from large medical centers. But Ivester tells The Oklahoman that the Legislature should study whether the helicopters are safe enough and if the service is used too often.
Ivester says he’s considering a recommendation from the University of Oklahoma’s emergency medicine department, which says accreditation should be mandatory for medical helicopter companies. Now, accreditation is voluntary.
The issue comes up after a series of fatal crashes involved Kansas-based Eagle Med.
Eagle Med has said it’s working with the Federal Aviation Administration to set a higher standard for safety in air medical transport services.
- Work Safety Group Releases List of ‘Dirty Dozen’ Employers
- Florida’s Home Insurance Industry May Be Worse Than Anyone Realizes
- Chubb CEO Greenberg: Some Financial Lines Underwriting Practices ‘Simply Dumb’
- Apollo Accused in Lawsuit of Illegal Human Life Wagering Scheme
- Ship Owner in Bridge Collapse Seeks to Limit Its Liability
- California Chiropractor Sentenced to 54 Years for $150M Workers’ Comp Scheme
- Millions of Recalled Hyundai and Kia Vehicles, With Dangerous Defect, Remain on Road
- Mother of 8-Year-Old ‘Violently Sucked’ into Houston Hotel Pool Files Wrongful Death Suit