By Bill Carey
EMS1
WINDER, Ga. — When a gunman opened fire at Apalachee High School on Sept. 4, first responders from across Winder responded to the scene.
Three crewmembers with Air Evac Lifeteam 117 also responded and transported a critically injured 14-year-old girl.
Pilot Matthew Dine, Flight Nurse Lindsey Chapman and Flight Medic Trey Phillips made up the medevac crew that day, recounting their swift response and life-saving efforts, FOX 5 Atlanta reported.
“It’s just difficult. This kind of stuff shouldn’t happen,” Chapman said. “It shouldn’t happen in life so it’s hard.”
Upon hearing the initial dispatch, Champman suggested positioning the aircraft near the school, reducing the response time to just minutes, FOX5 Atlanta reported.
The crew recognized the severity of the 14-year-old’s injuries and quickly applied a tourniquet, started IVs, administered oxygen and provided blood to her during the transport to Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta News First reported.
The crew visited that young teen a few days later to see how she was recovering.
“It was really great to see her sitting up and being responsive,” Dine said. “We haven’t heard from her since, so if she is watching, we are glad you are back home and recovering well.”
The shooting was especially hard for Phillips, who responded to the 1999 Heritage High School shooting that wounded six.
“You don’t think you’re going to do it once and two times is certainly too many,” Phillips said. “In this line of work, you have to have a switch to where you can shut your emotions off and be able to do your job. It’s after the call you have to deal with the emotions you have. We are all parents, I’m a grandparent. Kids really hit you hard.”
