UW Hospital Med Flight team members are keeping a close eye on some of the fastest drivers in the world at Road America in Elkhart Lake. Dan Williams, Med Flight program director, says they’ll serve as the on-site flying trauma team for drivers during the NASCAR Bucyrus 200. “Our role there really is to provide air medical support for the drivers,” Williams says.
Road America paved a special landing zone at the track to accommodate takeoffs and landings in case a driver is seriously injured in a crash. The helicopter will put the drivers minutes away from area hospitals and less than a half hour from Milwaukee hospitals. “We never hope that we’re needed, but it’s good to know if we are needed, it’s good to know that there will be the best of the best taking care of the injured person.”
It’s the first ever NASCAR road race at Elkhart Lake and the first race event for UW Med Flight. Practice sessions and time trials begin Thursday and the race is on Saturday. A second MedFlight chopper and team will be at UW Hospital in Madison for the three days of the NASCAR event.