Every minute counts when treating a trauma patient and a new north country helicopter service is making that time shorter.
The medical transport service LifeNet had a test landing at Samaritan Medical Center's new helipad Thursday.
The helicopter service will be headquartered at the Watertown International Airport and ready to fly to trauma centers in Syracuse or Burlington, Vermont.
It has been 5 years since the north country has had a helicopter service and they're glad a service is here again.
"This is going to save time and in critical trauma situations, time is life," said Denise Young of the Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization.
"What historically takes an hour to three hours by ground will now be cut down to well within 30 minutes," said Marty Delaney of Air Methods.
LifeNet will begin service Friday.
The air ambulance will charge the patient or the patient's insurance for the service.
See our earlier report
