GOODYEAR, AZ – Jan. 26, 2026 – To ensure seamless, high-quality patient care during emergencies, Native Air 23, a local ICU-level air medical provider, hosted an Advanced Airway Management Training course for the Gila Bend Fire Department on Jan. 21. The hands-on, scenario-based training focused on critical, lifesaving airway skills for patients of all ages—infant, pediatric, and adult—and supported both emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics from ground EMS units.

Advanced airway management is among the most complex and high-stakes procedures in emergency medicine. Effective airway control can be the determining factor between survival and serious injury or death in both medical and traumatic emergencies. Ongoing training in these critical skills ensures providers can respond swiftly and confidently in high-pressure situations, including rare but life-threatening cases involving infants and children.

“Advanced airway management is one of the most critical and time-sensitive interventions we perform,” said Vanessa Malanowski, Native Air flight nurse and base outreach coordinator. “By training together with Gila Bend Fire, we ensure that high-level care begins the moment the patient is encountered. This collaboration creates a seamless transition from ground to air, improving safety, efficiency, and ultimately patient outcomes.”

Air Methods, the parent company of Native Air, outperforms the industry in 11 key Ground & Air Medical Quality Transport (GAMUT) metrics, including first attempt intubation success. Clinicians achieve approximately 93% first pass and approximately 98% overall intubation success, all while delivering hospital-level care in flight. Air Methods clinicians perform more than 2,200 advanced airway placements each year. All clinicians participate in Air Methods Ascend, a comprehensive annual training program that combines hands-on education and high-fidelity simulation to ensure excellence in critical care. Ascend is also available to medical and EMS personnel across the country.

Critical care training and strong partnerships between fire, EMS, and Native Air teams not only enhance the level of care patients receive but also strengthen overall community safety. By training together, teams develop a shared understanding of one another’s skills, equipment, and capabilities, allowing both teams to anticipate needed interventions and work seamlessly together, ultimately reducing time on scene and getting patients to definitive care faster.

“When patients are in critical condition, partnership and preparation make the difference in outcomes,” said Gila Bend Fire Chief Arelia Henry. “Training side by side with Native Air 23 ensures our ground and air crews understand each other’s equipment and roles before we’re on scene. That shared readiness helps us move faster, make safer decisions, and deliver the critical care our community deserves.”

Through outreach initiatives such as the Advanced Airway Management course, Native Air 23 remains committed to supporting local first responders with evidence-based training that strengthens community partnerships and elevates patient outcomes. All courses are accredited by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN), the Commission on Accreditation for Pre-Hospital Continuing Education (CAPCE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).