posted September 17, 2025

Emergency air medical base hosts event at local hospital to commemorate milestone anniversary 

UVALDE, TX – Sept. 16, 2025 – For a quarter century, the people of Uvalde County and beyond have been in good hands with AirLIFE TEXAS 5 providing critical, lifesaving air medical transport. On Sept. 16, the base celebrated that milestone with an anniversary event at Uvalde Memorial Hospital, its partner since day one. The hospital also entered into a preferred provider agreement with AirLIFE TEXAS in 2016, ensuring patients have rapid access to exceptional care. 

“I’ve been around AirLIFE for 25 years. I know the consistency, the quality they bring to the table, and what they do for our patients,” said Uvalde Memorial Hospital CEO Adam Apolinar. “We are very glad to have them here on a regular basis. There have been other services that have come and gone, but AirLIFE has been consistent, and we are very glad for that. Thank you for being here.” 

Approximately 200 guests, including hospital staff and representatives from the Uvalde Police Department, Uvalde Volunteer Fire Department, Uvalde EMS, Utopia EMS, Concan EMS, Alpha Medical Transport, and the Texas Department of Public Safety, heard from community leaders, enjoyed breakfast, and toured the AirLIFE TEXAS helicopter while crew members shared insight into what it takes to deliver critical care 24/7 from the skies. 

“We are immensely proud of the high quality of care AirLIFE TEXAS has provided to this community over the past 25 years,” said Air Methods Area Manager Joel Ramirez. “We are the leaders in clinical quality and carry lifesaving cardiac equipment that no other program in the state has. We look forward to maintaining this commitment to excellence for the people of Uvalde for the next 25 years.” 

AirLIFE TEXAS is part of Air Methods, the nation’s leading emergency air medical service provider, and together with its sister bases in New Braunfels, Lockhart, and Snyder, AirLIFE TEXAS provides a complete ecosystem of emergency air medical support across the state. Their flying ICUs carry industry-leading clinicians who are trained to provide critical care to patients suffering from trauma due to accidents, cardiac and stroke events, high-risk obstetric emergencies, and more. They carry whole blood on board and can administer it in flight to patients suffering from severe blood loss and at risk for hemorrhagic shock. They are also the state’s only program to carry the ZOLL AutoPulse® NXT automated CPR device, which delivers consistent, high-quality chest compressions to patients in cardiac arrest, allowing clinicians to provide other critical care. 

“This is a great day to be an American, a great day to be a Texan, and a great day to be a Uvaldean. Thank you, AirLIFE, for 25 years of unmatched excellence,” said President of the Board of Directors of Uvalde Memorial Hospital Benjamin Elliot. “Thank you for all that you have done over the years, it is much appreciated. This community has benefited from it, and the surrounding communities have benefited from it, so thank you very much.” 

Air Methods is committed to providing air medical services to all members of the communities it serves and is in-network with most major health insurance providers across the country for emergency air medical services. Additionally, their patient advocacy program works with all patients, regardless of insurance, to ensure affordability while making pre-paid air medical membership unnecessary.   

“We really appreciate the sense of community in Uvalde and the partnerships we have built over the past 25 years,” said Air Methods Account Executive Amber Buchanan. “We are particularly thankful for the support of Uvalde Memorial Hospital and the long history we share in caring for the people of this region.”