Public invited to helipad grand opening and emergency drill with Blackhawk landing

The public is invited to the helipad grand opening and military helicopter landing at Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center this week.

At 54-feet, it is one of the largest hospital-based helipads in northern California. The landing zone is big enough to accommodate a Blackhawk military helicopter, which will aid in the event of a community-wide disaster. On March 6, a Blackhawk will take part in a simulated emergency drill at Vacaville Medical Center.

The helipad will serve to bring critically injured patients to the Level III Trauma Center at Kaiser Permanente Vacaville. It is the most recent hospital improvement since the medical center opened in 2009 and brought trauma services to Solano County in 2011.

Kaiser Permanente is now focused on becoming a Level II Trauma Center, which includes the development of Solano County’s only Neurosurgery Program. Solano County is expected to designate a Level II Trauma Center later this year.

The helipad grand opening and helicopter landing is open to the public.

When: Friday March 8, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. (Please note: this is a new date for the event)

Where: Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Center, 1 Quality Dr, Vacaville, CA 95688

Directions: Take the Leisure Town Road exit off I-80 toward Kaiser Permanente and enter onto Quality Drive. Follow signs to the event.

For more information: Call 707-651-3672