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Hazy conditions impacting one of region’s life-saving resources

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CENTERVILLE — A smokey haze is covering the Miami Valley and it’s creating a problem for some of the region’s most important resources.

Premier Health said Wednesday was the first day the smoke has become a problem for their CareFlight crews.

It’s created too low of a cloud deck for them and poor visibility.

Whether they take a flight when they get dispatched is based on a number of things like crew safety because of weather conditions, plus legal FAA regulations they have to follow.

>> Miami Valley air quality remains at unhealthy levels due to Canadian wildfire smoke

CareFlight crews are often moving people who need critical treatment immediately.

Many times these pilots and medical professionals are dealing with life-and-death situations.

They told News Center 7′s John Bedell there have been several calls they have not been able to fly Wednesday.

“There’s many factors out there that can affect things. The weather pattern we’re seeing out there with the smoke and the haze from the Canadian wildfires, really it’s a case-by-case basis out there.” Brian Bates, CareFlight outreach manager said.

>> MVRPC extends Air Quality Alert for parts of the region as smoke from Canadian wildfires return

CareFlight also has a mobile ICU ambulance that they can use for ground transportation for patients.

News Center 7 asked if they think conditions will improve at all Friday and allow them to fly any more often.

They said they’ll have to wait and see what the conditions are like and make that decision based on what they see then.


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