LIFE FORCE Air Medical

04/25/2026

Remembering a Pillar of our Team

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of former LIFE FORCE Flight Communicator, Martha Rhoades, following a brief illness.

Martha was a fixture at LIFE FORCE for many years, serving in various roles throughout her dedicated career before her well-deserved retirement. To those who worked alongside her, Martha was more than just a colleague; she was a calm voice in the chaos and a dedicated professional who ensured our teams stayed safe and connected.

Her legacy lives on in the lives she helped save from behind the console and the many friendships she forged within the LIFE FORCE family.

Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Martha’s family, friends, and former teammates during this difficult time. Rest easy, Martha. We will miss you. 🚁💙

04/24/2026

Many of you have been asking this week about the K-9 Challenge Coin and shirts, how you can support the K-9 Transport Program and if we will repost the link to purchase the coins and shirts.

The LIFE FORCE K-9 Transport Program Challenge coin and shirts was designed as a fundraiser to be able to purchase training equipment for the K-9 Program. This is a great collectable to have and a great way to help with purchasing K-9 specific training equipment.

100% of the profit from the coins goes directly to the purchase of that equipment and training supplies for this program.

If you are interested, we are sharing the link below.

Click the link you need below to order and pay. THANK YOU.. Orders will be shipped directly to you.

Challenge Coins:
https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/DTKPKZDHJE3H4

T-Shirts
https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/UTFZ3WASNU8A4

04/24/2026

Safety isn’t just about how we fly; it’s about the gear that protects us. 🚁🛡️

Our LIFE FORCE Helmet Maintenance Team recently completed specialized, hands-on training with our vendor, Paraclete. The team performed deep-dive inspections, full tear-downs, and advanced maintenance techniques to ensure every helmet in our fleet meets the highest safety standards.

A huge thank you to Paraclete for sharing their expertise and helping us keep our crew protected so they can focus on what they do best: saving lives.

04/24/2026

LIFE FORCE CREW MEMBERS COMPLETE MEDICAL TRANSPORT EXECUTIVE COURSE

Chattanooga, TN – April Womac, Flight Nurse, Clinical Base Manager for LIFE FORCE 4, and Myron Schroepfer, Flight Paramedic, Clinical Base Manager for LIFE FORCE 3, has successfully completed the Certified Medical Transport Executive (CMTE) course in West Virginia.

The CMTE course is an intensive 2-year program designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of individuals who manage and oversee medical transportation services. The course covers a wide range of topics, including leadership, finance, risk management, quality improvement, and regulatory compliance.

With the completion of the CMTE course, April and Myron have gained valuable knowledge and expertise in the air medical transport environment. This achievement demonstrates their commitment to continuous learning and professional development, as well as their dedication to providing the best possible care to patients.

“I am honored to have April and Myron complete the CMTE course,” said Robbie Tester, Vice President of Mobile Medicine, Public Safety and EROC at Erlanger Health. “The knowledge and skills they have gained through this training will enable them to better service our patients and enhance the quality of our air medical program.”

April and Myron are now Certified Medical Transport Executives, recognized by the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS).

LIFE FORCE began operations in 1988 and currently has six bases of operations to, including: Cleveland, TN; Sparta, TN; Calhoun, GA; Blue Ridge, GA; Wi******er, TN and Murphy, NC. The LIFE FORCE fleet consists of four twin-engine IFR helicopters and two single-engine VFR helicopters. The program possesses a record of aviation excellence and safety. LIFE FORCE has also maintained accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Air Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS).

04/23/2026

Update: K-9 Luca is headed home, back to North Carolina with his handler, Det. Steven Smith.

A huge shoutout to University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine and their amazing work, as well as LIFE FORCE Air Medical for making history this week with the first K-9 officer flown for treatment in Tennessee.

We wish them the very best and a swift full recovery! You all are welcome back on Rocky Top anytime!

04/23/2026

K9 Luca Update

Thursday morning update from his handler.

Luca is wide awake this morning! Everything is looking great! Sense of smell is restored, lungs steadily improving (and will continue to improve.)

Ole boy is still tired and definitely is not 100%just yet but he’s still well on his way to a full recovery. Everything appears to be intact optically as well which was another big concern.

According to the team this morning, Luca’s final dose of medication will be administered at 1:00 this afternoon. After a brief observation, we are scheduled to depart home bound at 2:00!

Luca is going to have to take a couple weeks worth of sick days to fully recover with some medication a few times a day.

04/22/2026

K-9 Luca Update

Many are asking and after speaking with the handler, he has provided this update to share on Luca as of this morning.

Update: Luca is progressing well. According to the doctors we are possibly going to be released late Thursday evening when Luca finishes his course of medication. He’s really doing well this morning. Maintaining 99-100% o2 saturation. He’s still quite sedated but just enough to keep him good and calm. He’s very alert eyeballing everyone that walks by our cage.

Luca and his handler are very thankful for all the prayers and support that has been shown during this difficult time.

04/21/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LIFE FORCE Air Medical Marks Historic Milestone with First Operational K9 Transport.

CHATTANOOGA, TN— Erlanger LIFE FORCE Air Medical is proud to announce the successful completion of its first-ever operational K-9 transport since the official launch of its K-9 Transport Program. The historic mission involved the rapid air medical evacuation of a K-9 officer from Clay County, NC, directly to the UUniversity of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicinein Knoxville.

While LIFE FORCE has conducted rigorous training simulations and "dry runs" with veterinary partners, this mission marks the first time the specialized program has been activated for a live transport in the field. By utilizing air assets, the transport time was reduced by hours, ensuring the K-9 received specialized trauma care within the critical "Golden Hour."

The LIFE FORCE K-9 Transport Program was born out of a commitment to provide law enforcement and military working dogs with the same level of life-saving care as their human handlers. LIFE FORCE is the first EMS agency in Tennessee and one of only a handful of air medical programs in the United States to provide this service.

The program was inspired by the 2017 line-of-duty death of K-9 Cain (Crossville Police Department). Cain’s passing highlighted a critical gap: while ground transport to specialized veterinary centers can take hours, air transport can deliver a wounded hero to a Level 1 veterinary trauma center in minutes.

LIFE FORCE aircraft are equipped with specialized K-9 medical equipment and flight crews members have undergone extensive training in canine anatomy, stabilization, and emergency interventions.

“These K-9s are heroes who protect our communities every single day,” said Stacy Prater, LIFE FORCE K-9 Transport Coordinator. “They deserve every fighting chance when they are injured in the line of duty. Today’s successful transport from Clay County to Knoxville proves that our program is ready and capable of delivering on that promise.”

LIFE FORCE remains dedicated to setting the highest standard for pre-hospital care—regardless of how many legs they have.

04/21/2026

04/17/2026

Today, our hearts are with our partners at the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office - TN as they lay to rest Deputy Landon Faulkner.

Deputy Faulkner was more than a public servant; he was a son, devoted husband, a father, a brother, and a protector of our community. Even in his passing, his legacy of service continued through the gift of organ donation—a final, heroic act that speaks volumes about the man he was.

We stand in solidarity with the Faulkner family and the entire law enforcement community during this difficult time.

Rest easy, Deputy Faulkner. 💙🖤

04/17/2026

It was a privilege to support the Chattanooga Police Department this past week during the United States Police Canine Association (USPCA) Qualifying Trials.

Our team was on-site providing dedicated standby medical coverage for both the handlers and their K9 partners as they navigated rigorous tests in narcotics detection and criminal apprehension.

Representing our team on standby were:

Stacy Prater, K9 Transport Coordinator

Glenn Susskind, Tactical / Flight Paramedic

We would like to extend a massive round of applause to all the winners—especially the CPD K9 Unit, who secured seven awards and a "Top Dog" national qualification. A special recognition was also given to MPO Paul Winkelman, who received the Medal of Valor in honor of K9 Diesel.

Congratulations to all the participants on a successful and safe competition. We are proud to play a role in supporting those who serve our community.

04/14/2026

This National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, we’re taking a moment to recognize the voices on the other end of the line.

When a 911 dispatcher answers a call, they aren’t just taking information—they are the first point of contact in someone’s worst moment. They are the calm in the chaos, providing life-saving instructions and gathering the critical details that allow our crews to launch and land safely.

To the dispatchers across our region: you are our eyes and ears before we ever leave the ground. Your professionalism and steady hand ensure that help is on the way when every second counts.
Thank you for being the lifeline behind the scenes. We are proud to serve alongside you.