This week, Hawai‘i Army Guard (HIARNG) helicopters flew both aero-medical evacuations and patient air transports. Two HIARNG medical evacuation crews, along with Hawaiʻi Life Flight/Global Medical Response civilian flight nurses were on each HH-60 Blackhawk mission.

Governor Josh Green, M.D. authorized the emergency use of the HIARNG HH60 MEDEVAC helicopters (and the select crews) to temporarily support the Hawaiʻi Life Flight/Global Medical Response safety stand down. The HIARNG presence reinforces the additional medical transport aviation capabilities being flown to Hawaiʻi. The HIARNG aviation assets ensures patients requiring higher level of care to be safely transported to locations that can provide that appropriate level of care.

“The Hawai‘i Army National Guard is filling a vital role for the community,” said Governor Green in a press release. The Governor continued, “The aero-medical evacuation mission saves lives, and we will continue to work with the Guard and other organizations to ensure everything is done to provide necessary services for our state.”

Gov. Green is reassessing the need for continuing use of these flights based on Hawaiʻi Life Flight/Global Medical Response’s ability to meet all critical care air transportation requirements.