PITTSFIELD – Nine global positioning systems were recently donated to Sebasticook Valley Hospital by Wal-Mart of Palmyra, according to SVH Trustee Michael Gray.

The hand-held systems allow ambulance personnel to find their precise location in order to quickly and accurately guide the LifeFlight air ambulance to them.

By using the same technology used by the military to aim missiles, ambulance personnel can find their location on the earth to an accuracy of 25 feet, said Gray.

Wal-Mart donated nine of the $100 monitors, and they have been placed in ambulances and first-responder rescue units from Pittsfield, Clinton, Corinna, Dexter, Dixmont, Hartland/St. Albans, Newport, Plymouth and Unity.

According to Gray, the monitors could save precious minutes guiding the medical helicopters to remote scenes, such as woods accidents and traffic crashes.

“We have a helipad at the hospital,” said Gray, “but there are often times when we need to get the LifeFlight right to a scene.”

Gray said training was held last week for all the ambulance staff involved.