A new piece of life-saving equipment is ready for service with Trinity Health’s Air Ambulance team.

Thanks to a contribution of $100,000 from Bravera Bank and donations from the Trinity Health Foundation, a $210,000 neonatal transport isolette has been added to the service’s life-saving toolkit.

Though it has not been used as of Thursday, the mobile unit is expected to significantly increase the survivability of premature or critically ill newborns during emergency transports. The isolette provides a controlled environment with temperature regulation, humidity control and built-in monitoring systems to keep vulnerable infants stable en route to higher-level care.

Trinity’s flight nurses respond to about 500 calls each year, typically staffed by a paramedic and a nurse, according to Rob Klink, unit manager of First Response Air Ambulance. The Air Ambulance service covers a 120-mile radius around Minot but can make longer flights, including to the Twin Cities area, with proper adjustments.

Trinity staff said the new isolette marks a vital advancement in their neonatal emergency response capabilities.