CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — When it comes to responding to an emergency in South Texas the team with HALO-Flight knows every minute counts.
In 2019, HALO-Flight is celebrating 32 years of service in the Coastal Bend. The HALO crew is responsible for helping save countless lives since it first began operations in 1987.
It can take up to an hour and 15 minutes to drive from Falfurrias to Corpus Christi but a trip with HALO-Flight it takes only 23 minutes.
When the crew takes off from HALO-Flight headquarters off FM 665, you know a patient needs critical care.
"When they see a situation where a patient needs to get from one location to another quickly, then they call us," said Randy Endsley, chief medical officer, and flight nurse
Endsley has been with the nonprofit for the last 20 years.
"I literally love coming to work every day," Endsley said.
According to Endsley, over the last three decades, HALO-Flight has transported thousands of critically ill or injured patients.
HALO-Flight's reach continues to grow with locations in Alice and Beeville they are now able to reach 26 counties, hundreds of miles, and 1.2 million people.
"We have a great relationship will all of our local EMS, to be honest without those ground providers, HALO flight doesn't work. because they are the one that calls us, they are the ones that make those decisions when a patient needs to be HALO flighted in the region," Endsley said.
A single 15-minute flight to the hospital can cost around $20,000 which is something some insurance companies might not cover.
HALO-Flight offers a guardian plan that is around $35 a year and covers your entire family.
The staff with HALO-Flight is just one example of local heroes who have signed up for a job that is aimed at helping people when lives are on the line.