[Photo of nurse Eric Lewis showing the interior of the B-105 CalSTAR helicopter]

Eric Lewis, a nurse with CalSTAR, shows the interior of the B-105 helicopter used to transport severely injured patients to nearby medical trauma facilities. CalSTAR is a nonprofit company established in 1984 with bases in Ukiah, Auburn, Concord, and Gilroy. The air ambulances are staffed by a pilot and two nurses and can lift out two severely injured people at a time. Traveling at a cruising speed of 150 MPH, the CalSTAR helicopter can take a patient from the Santa Cruz area to a San Jose trauma center in 12 to 15 minutes. Lewis adds that, "This job is the best nursing job on the face of the earth."

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