Is emergency air rescue really necessary?

[MMiz]

Is emergency air rescue really necessary?

Of the 108 flights, in what parts of the town were they required? Considering that EMS ambulance services are pretty well spread around the 51 square miles of the town, one has to wonder why air rescue is needed in such a small area. Recognizing that seconds and minutes count, what's the time and medical treatment difference (within the town) between the two services, from the time a call comes in to when an injured person reaches the hospital?

Read more!

 

[mikeylikesit]

It all depends on your setting, around here most trauma patient who get hurt out in the wilderness wouldn't survive the ride time to get to a hospital with the appropriate trauma center.

 

[mycrofft]

In 20 years we had three airlifts and none were needed.

One was for a code, found pulseless and cold. One was for a scalp gash, the third a severely avulsed cheek, neither of which had airway embarassment or serious injury but they looked like the last circle of hell. Oh well...

 

[Airwaygoddess]

The other question is does this service also get dispatched out to other surrounding areas that require a patient needing a air transport?

 

[Jon]

This is an interesting situation... and this is a letter to the editor.
Here are 2 stories with more info:
http://www.emsresponder.com/web/onl...op-State-Police-Helicopter-Partnership/1$7890

Since 1993, members of Colonie's Emergency Medical Services Department have flown with State Police air crews in a 75-mile radius from Albany International Airport to perform rescues and fly the most critical patients to hospitals. The program is one of five statewide.
While the crews were not assigned solely to helicopter missions, they were on call when needed. The air crews seldom responded to emergencies in Colonie because of the town's proximity to Albany Medical Center Hospital, but the airport's location at the center of the town made Colonie a natural partner.

and a story on their possible replacement:
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=707046&category=REGION

COLONIE -- While town paramedics may soon stop staffing State Police helicopter rescue missions, the area's largest private ambulance provider says it is willing and ready to take their place.Mohawk Ambulance Service has paramedics trained to staff the Lifeguard Air Rescue Program and has alerted the State Police to the company's interest, said Mohawk spokesman Christopher Bombardier.

Essentially, the town paramedics responded on the state police's helicopter as needed. for emergency transports. The state didn't pay for it... but provided the helicopter and allowed EMS to bill for the transport.

I'm curious if these were the only medics working the town... or if this was an extra crew that was on to back up the street crews, and also cover aeromedical calls.

 

[scmedic1614]

Some places overuse the air ambulance.

I have the benefit of working for a busy, urban/rural service in SC, and also being a volunteer/officer of a small all rural fire department. I've seen the need for air transport when the ambulance is 35-45 minutes away from the trauma center, or when we (the FD) get on scene and have to wait for an ambulance. Those are the times when air transport is one of the best things going for that pt.

But then there are the times when some goofball calls for a chopper because either he is an idiot and doesn't deserve his/her patch, or (God help me I actually heard someone say this the other day) "I just haven't seen the chopper in a while." That is when air transport is overrated. I've seen a medic call for a chopper just because he didn't want to ride all the way to the hospital with the patient.

I know there are some people out there who may disagree, but after 17 yrs in the fire service and 11 years in EMS, i think we should be discussing why there are people who would do this, not if air transport is overrated.

 

[ILemt]

In my time in EMS Ive just used Medevac at one scene. However I ended up calling in two birds for two different patients (8 total pts).
- Short version: semi versus church short-bus

 

[BossyCow]

We rarely if ever have med-evac respond directly to the scene. Its generally dispatched to the local hospital to airlift out pts we've brought in. It does happen though, generally with the more rural MVAs.