ShandsCair staff named State Flight Nurse of the Year and Pilot of the Year
GAINESVILLE, Fla.—Two ShandsCair teammates will be honored for outstanding accomplishments with annual awards at a state ceremony today (June 30).
The Florida Emergency Medical Services Pilots Association will name Don Irving its 2009 Pilot of the Year. Irving is the ShandsCair pilot who garnered national attention in March when he successfully landed the ShandsCair helicopter after a duck hit the aircraft and destroyed the windshield.
Jim Howard, who served for many years as ShandsCair Flight Program director, will be named Flight Nurse of the Year by the Florida Air Surface Transport Nurses Association.
Both will receive their awards at a ceremony hosted by the Florida EMS on Tuesday evening in Orlando.
Irving was the pilot in command during a flight on March 5 when a duck struck and shattered the windshield of the ShandsCair helicopter. The team was transporting a trauma patient to Shands at UF. The duck hit Irving in the face, causing him minor injuries. Due to Irving’s quick response and use of emergency procedures, the crew and paitent made a safe landing nearby. The accident happened at night at an altitude of 700 feet and speed of 160 mph.
“Don has been a pilot for many years and is one of the most level-headed and unflappable people I have ever met,” said David Meurer, M.D., UF College of Medicine emergency physician and ShandsCair medical director. “He was hit in the face and just kept a calm and sturdy demeanor during some incredible circumstances. He overcame a very serious situation.”
Howard was nominated by flight program peers from across Florida. He was with ShandsCair for 25 years before recently taking on a new position as a nurse specialist with the UF Physicians Cardiology West outpatient practice in Gainesville.
“I’ve known Jim for many years and he is someone who has dedicated his life to EMS and to patient care here in Florida,” said Meurer. “Jim would never seek out the spotlight, but this recognition is well deserved. He does so much good that it is impossible for him to escape this credit.”