On a crisp fall evening on a dark country road, two cars met head on, shattering the still silence and severely injuring the occupants of both vehicles. A passing motorist saw the pile of twisted metal and called 911. When paramedics reached the remote rural road, they knew if lives were to be saved their only hope was to call Geisinger Life Flight.

Cases like this occur on a daily basis with the Geisinger Life Flight, and because of this, it has been chosen to be recognized by the American Red Cross of Lackawanna County at the Everyday Heroes Awards Breakfast. The breakfast will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 16, from 8 to 10 a.m. at Genetti Manor, Dickson City.

“We’re honored to be recognized by the American Red Cross of Lackawanna County,” said David J. Schoenwetter, D.O., F.A.C.E.P., director, emergency medical services, Geisinger Health System. “The Life Flight team goes out every day not knowing what to expect, and it’s both to their credit and the benefit of the community that they react so efficiently in emergency situations.”

In 2012, 176 critically injured or ill patients from Lackawanna County were air-lifted by Life Flight for advanced life support care and transportation to critical care facilities. Life Flight serves 30 counties in central and northeastern Pennsylvania, and operates 24 hours a day from five locations. Locally, Life Flight is based at the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre International Airport in Avoca.

The Life Flight team will be honored together with several other local heroes at the Everyday Heroes Awards Breakfast by Rep. Matthew Cartwright and his wife, Attorney Marion Munley Cartwright, who will serve as honorary co-chairs of the event.