Senator Peter Oberacker visited the LifeNet facility in Sidney today to learn more about potential problems that need addressing.

The LifeNet program operates more than 300 aircraft at over 250 bases nationwide, with the base in Sidney serving as one of the state's 11 emergency medical service flight teams, and executing around 300 missions per year.

Emergencies dealt with depending on the state of current ground resources available, something they are calculating with hospitals as soon as the initial 9-1-1 call comes in, and seeing if life net can get there faster than they can.

The visit today comes after Oberacker helped pass the Senate bill S4085 in 2022, with unanimous support among the legislature.

The bill allowed air transport ambulance service providers to carry blood and blood products for transfusions in the air.

"I guess number one, being a member of my own emergency squad and just how important, both personally and what I've seen, you know, professionally here, when the opportunity came and, it was being discussed, who wouldn't want or who wouldn't want to have this service, right?  it was a no brainer to get, this type of service to the constituents," Oberacker said.

Oberacker's personal history in the field and a farming accident resulting in his son needing the care highlighted those concerns.

"I think it really was part and parcel to educating our other senators, other legislators, just how important that one thing, just being able to have blood products, both on air and ground services," Oberacker said.

He hopes he can find other needs for the medical community in the future using input from organizations like LifeNet.