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Sharon Hospital upgrades helipad

Sharon Hospital upgrades helipad
Sharon Hospital President Christina McCulloch (second from left holding scissors) cut the ribbon on the hospital’s new, upgraded helipad Thursday, Jan. 12. 
Photo by Patrick L. Sullivan

SHARON — Sharon Hospital held a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new helipad on Thursday, Jan. 12.

Hospital President Christina McCulloch cut the robbon Thursday morning as the green landing lights gleamed behind her.

The new helipad has an 80 foot walkway, up from 60 feet in the previous iteration. The pad itself is slightly smaller at 40 by 40 feet, down from 50 x 50.

David Jensen, the Regional EMS Coordinator for the hospital’s parent company Nuvance, said 40 x 40 feet is the federal standard.

He said the LED lights prevent pilots using night vision equipment from being blinded by the lights.

The helipad and walkway have a heating system so they won’t freeze up in winter weather. The pipes underneath the pad contain glycol, an antifreeze ingredient.

Jensen said if the power goes out, the backup diesel generator nearby will kick in.

Patrick L. Sullivan

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