1 / 14

Aeromedical Operations

Aeromedical Operations. Why Call The Helicopter?. Access to interventions, equipment not available from ground unit. (Be sure this is true before calling for this reason.) Access to remote areas Rapid patient transport. Think of it as an ambulance that goes 200 mph in a straight line.

Jimmy
Download Presentation

Aeromedical Operations

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Aeromedical Operations

  2. Why Call The Helicopter? • Access to interventions, equipment not available from ground unit. (Be sure this is true before calling for this reason.) • Access to remote areas • Rapid patient transport. Think of it as an ambulance that goes 200 mph in a straight line.

  3. Trauma Score <12 Glasgow Score<10 Penetrating trauma to head or torso Injuries producing paralysis, lateralizing signs Amputations, except digits >2 Long bone fractures Crush injury to head or torso Burns of face, feet, hands, perineum Respiratory burns Electrical or chemical burns Patient <12 or >55 Near drownings Why Call The Helicopter?

  4. Why Call The Helicopter? • Adults with: • Systolic BP <90 • Respiratory rate <10 or >35 • Heart rate <60 or >120 • Unresponsive to verbal stimuli

  5. Why Call The Helicopter? • Mechanism of Injury • Unbelted vehicle rollover • Vehicle vs. Pedestrian >20mph • Falls >10ft • Motorcycle ejection >20mph • Multiple victims

  6. Why Call The Helicopter? • Difficult Access • Wilderness rescue • Difficult road conditions, weather, traffic • Time/Distance Factors • Trauma center >15 minutes • Extrication time >20 minutes • Ground transport time >Air transport time • Ground transport would remove local coverage

  7. Packaging/Transport Considerations • Backboard size • Traction splints • ET tube cuffs • MAST • IV bag pressure infusers • Auscultation of chest sounds

  8. Landing Zone • Flat area clear of obstructions • Nighttime: 100 feet x 100 feet • At least 50 yards from rescue scene to minimize rotor wash effects • Remove loose debris; Wet down area with water fog to minimize dust

  9. Landing Zone • On divided highways, stop all traffic in both directions • Warn crew of locations of power lines, poles, antennas, trees • Mark each corner of LZ; put a 5th device on the upwind side • NEVER point any kind of light at a helicopter on approach at night

  10. Landing Zone • Move bystanders back at least 200 feet • Keep emergency personnel 100 feet away during landing • No smoking within 50 feet of aircraft

  11. Describe your location in terms of the ship’s location, not yours For example: “Medivac 1, we have you in sight. We are at your 10 o’clock position.” 12 9 3 6 Communications with Crew

  12. Operations Near Helicopters • Secure all loose items, including hats and stretcher sheets • Never approach until pilot signals you to • Approach from front, keeping pilot in sight • Approach from downhill if ship is on incline • NEVER cross behind or underneath the ship

  13. Operations Near Helicopters • Crouch when approaching, leaving ship • NEVER attempt to open a door or operate other equipment on the ship • Follow ALL crew instructions exactly

  14. Operations Near Helicopters • By federal law, the pilot has absolute command over the ship • He has final authority to determine whether or not to attempt a mission or a maneuver • Highest priority always is given to the safety of the ship and its crew

More Related