The local Care Flight helicopter — a Eurocopter AS350 B3 — hovers recently over Lake Tahoe. It is specially built to handle well at high altitudes and in windy conditions. It can land on a small footprint, such as a mountain top or high meadow.

Care Flight is a 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit organization. The agency operates a base in Truckee, Reno and Gardnerville, covering a large portion of northern and central California and northwestern Nevada.

REPRESENTATIVE Susan Yap today defended before the House Appropriations Committee the Substitute Bill institutionalizing the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Act of 2012. Providing emergency medical service by the government is very crucial as it helps avert possible health complications when hospital service is not readily available, Rep. Yap said.