Many accident victims and critically ill persons require immediate evacuation to hospitals in the bigger centres where they may be provided with highly specialized care! This is usually performed via road ambulance- – some cases however necessitate air evacuation, and we would like to consider the factors to decide whether this is the best option!
ER24 has provided the following guidelines:
MEDICAL GUIDELINES
1. Head injuries where the initial GCS is no less than 6 and no more 12, with focal neurological deficit.
2. Systolic blood pressure of less than 80 mm Hg systolic, despite fluid resuscitation.
3. Where signs and symptoms indicate spinal injury and where road transport, exceeds 20 minutes or where extreme
terrain prevents safe ground transportation.
4. Patients with respiratory distress despite supplemental oxygenation.
5. Threatened limbs and / or amputations above the elbow or knee, with significant vascular compromise.
6. Severe penetrating injury trauma to the head, neck, thorax.
7. Near drowning – where the patient remains unstable despite initial care.
8. Electrocution with unstable arrhythmia or neurological deficit.
9. Hypothermia (<35 °C) or hyperthermia (>40 °C).
10. Burns – in adults with 30-80% BSA – in children with 20-80% BSA – burns to the face, with actual or potential
airway compromise.
11. Medical patients where the expertise of the crew is required:
* Unstable myocardial infarction
* Unstable arrhythmia
* Refractory anaphylaxis
* Refractory seizures
THE FAMOUS SIX
The Famous Six is intended as a series of questions that can be asked by an emergency care practitioner in the prehospital setting to determine the viability of Air vs. ground transportation of a patient.
1. Does your patient require medical resources that are critically time dependent?
2. How long will it take for you to begin your journey with the patient to a facility that will provide this intervention?
3. Does the road surface that you intend to take to hospital impact deleteriously on your patient’s condition?
4. Will the Ait Evecuation provide you experience/expertise that will dramatically assist you in the management of the patient?
5. Do you rapidly require more Advanced Life Support to manage your patient’s condition and or the number of
patients you face?
6. Does your patient meet the clinical criteria for air evacuation identified in the dispatch guidelines?
We would like to share a few photos of Air Evacuation from interesting places performed by Aerocare in recent months.
Ladybrand
Sutherland
Pofadder
Alival North
Also visit the following sections:
- Aerocare, Emergency Medical Air Evacuation and Road Safety
- Accident Scene Safety
- Identification of a Patient
- Road Safety And Response Time To Accidents
- CrisisOnCall , Emergency Roadside Assistance and Road Safety