posted October 10, 2025

Air Medical Base Hosts Open House for First Responders

BORREGO SPRINGS, CA – Oct. 10, 2025 – Today, Mercy Air 8 celebrated its five years of dedicated service with an open house, providing critical air medical transport to residents of rural northeast San Diego County. The event brought together first responders, partners, and requestors. Since opening the base in 2020, at the Borrego Medical Center, Mercy Air has responded to thousands of emergency calls, offering rapid response times and expert medical care to a region where timely access to trauma centers can mean the difference between life and death.

A collaborative initiative between Air Methods, the nation’s largest air medical services provider, and the Borrego Valley Endowment Fund (BVEF), this base was launched with the shared mission of closing critical healthcare access gaps in remote communities. The partnership has since become a model for rural emergency response.

“For the past five years, the Borrego Valley Endowment Fund’s partnership with Mercy Air has been pivotal in advancing emergency medical care in Borrego Springs,” said J. David Garmon, M.D., BVEF president. “The presence of Mercy Air in our community has meant faster response times, greater access to lifesaving interventions, and peace of mind for residents and visitors alike. The Borrego Valley Endowment Fund is proud to underwrite and celebrate this vital collaboration, which strengthens the health and resilience of our region.”

The BVEF, a nonprofit focused on expanding access to affordable healthcare in the region, played a foundational role in bringing the base to life. Through its community partnership agreement with Air Methods, the Endowment Fund helped secure long-term sustainability for this essential service.

“When we opened this base five years ago, we knew the need was urgent—and it remains just as vital today,” said Bill Hinton, area manager with Air Methods. “Our helicopters serve as flying ICUs, staffed with certified flight nurses, paramedics, pilots, and mechanics trained to the highest standards. Together with the Endowment Fund, we’ve been able to ensure residents in even the most isolated areas receive lifesaving care when every minute counts.”

The Mercy Air team is certified and has state-of-the-art specialty care training that provides the same level of care one would receive in the hospital. The aircraft is equipped with industry-leading medical devices and advanced technologies, enabling clinicians to perform advanced airway interventions, cardiac and blood flow monitoring, medication administration, and blood transfusions at the scene or in flight – a vital resource that improves patient outcomes. These capabilities are especially critical in the Borrego Springs region, where ground transportation can take over an hour to reach the nearest trauma center.

As it celebrates five years of service, Mercy Air remains steadfast in its mission, delivering expert critical care in the air, ensuring that geography is never a barrier to lifesaving treatment. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) — the highest standards in safety, clinical practice, quality assurance, and training in the industry. They provide lifesaving services without requiring a membership to avoid a costly bill.