SEYMOUR, Ind. (AP) – A church summer camp and retreat center in rural southern Indiana has added a concrete landing pad for use by medical helicopters.

Officials say the new pad at the SpringHill Camps near Seymour would save time from having to have patients taken by ambulance to what had been the closest landing site at the volunteer fire station in the town of Cortland.

SpringHill regional director Keith Rudge tells The (Seymour) Tribune http://bit.ly/1FerK63 ) that the landing pad is an extra measure of safety for the thousands of youths and adults who attend programs at the camp.

Statflight pilot Scott Kramer says medical helicopters could land quickly at the camp's pad since the area around it has been checked for electrical wires, trees and uneven ground.