Stroke Victim Life Flighted out of Imbler
By Garrett Christensen on Friday, July 22nd, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
IMBLER, OR – The Imbler football field became an impromptu landing pad on July 18 as both a La Grande Fire Department and Life Flight helicopter were dispatched for a local medical emergency. At approximately 8:15 p.m. the Imbler Rural Fire Department received notice of a stroke victim. The Life Flight and fire helicopters arrived at approximately 8:35 p.m. with the victim successfully being transported out of the valley to a higher-level care facility.
According to Imbler Rural Fire Department Chief Mike Barry, the use of the football field as a landing area for Life Flight helicopters is somewhat common when needing to transport persons with serious head injuries or experiencing other major medical emergencies such as strokes. A similar use of the field occurred following a motor vehicle accident at approximately 3:30 a.m. July 21. The potential need for longer distance transport to higher level care facilities necessitates the use of helicopters landing in the local area. Depending on the severity of the accident, transport to the Grande Ronde Hospital may still occur, though the final decision is ultimately up to the on-scene paramedics after they’ve accessed the situation.
