Air-Medical in ND by Mike Schultz
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Transcript Air-Medical in ND by Mike Schultz
Air-Medical in ND
Michael Schultz
Flight Paramedic
Educator
Sanford LifeFlight
Objectives
Define what Air-Medical is and what they
offer.
What Auto-Launch is and how it works.
Understand the best use of the Air-Medical
programs in ND.
Communication with the Air-Medical groups
in ND.
What is Air-Medical?
It is a 24/7/365 ALS or critical care
transport resource to the communities that
we serve.
All have the same philosophy and goals for
pre-hospital care.
Highest level of care for the shortest period
of time to the most appropriate facility.
What is Air-Medical?
Emergency Transportation
High Acuity patient’s
Trauma, Medical, Pediatric, OB, NICU
Local resources not available.
Patient is in a remote or difficult location to access
by vehicle.
Transport to the most appropriate facility.
Bypassing facilities.
What is Air Medical?
Each ND HEMS offers different care
RN and Paramedic
RT and other specialty care
Patient needs a higher level of care.
Time is spent with 2 critical care
attendants during the transport.
The Golden Hour
“Emphasizes the urgency necessary for
successful management to maximize
outcome of the injured patient”
American College of Surgeons, Advanced
Trauma Life Support. 1997.
This is not just for trauma anymore!
Strokes
AMI’s
Pitfalls of EMS in ND
Few ALS services.
Call volumes of the BLS/ALS
ambulance.
Response times/distances.
Time to a rural facility.
Often rely heavily on Volunteers
Level 4 and 5 trauma centers
Pitfalls of HEMS in ND
Helicopters are located at or near the
receiving hospitals.
Most are hospital based
Few and far between
HEMS have a 10 min lift off goal.
Long distances to rural areas
ND Weather
March and November…
Few fueling stations in ND
Very Few with 24 hour coverage
ND Helicopter Response
Times
How to combat pitfalls?
HEMS AutoLaunch
When the criteria is met send most appropriate
level of care.
BLS, ALS, and Helicopter
Remember the golden hour.
To definitive care.
Do not wait until Responders are on the scene!
HEMS is an additional resource
Still need standard EMS response per local protocol
Autolaunch
How would it work?
Scenario – Rural Carrington
○ Severe Anhydrous Ammonia burns
○ Face, Chest, legs, and groin >18%
7 C-3 (>18%) or 7 C-4 (Facial Burns)
○ Difficulty Breathing
7 C-2
Where does he need to go?
Fargo?
Bismarck?
Minneapolis?
Who can activate Air-Medical?
Autolaunch?
911 call for a Male
trapped in a Grain
Elevator
22 D-4
Autolaunch?
S.O. reports MVA
rollover with
entrapment in rural
Jamestown area.
What kind of
entrapment?
29 D4
Why Autolaunch
Trauma center locations
The Golden Hour of Trauma
Highest level of care for the shortest
period of time.
Time is always against the brain, heart,
and trauma survival.
HEMS MYTHS
Only activate when
someone is on scene.
If you cancel the
helicopter, you will get a
bill…
Can’t bill them.
Replaces the responding
ground Ambulance.
Too windy for a
helicopter to fly.
Partially true
“The weather is beautiful
here.”
Helicopters can only
land on the road.
“Too unstable to fly.”
When to utilize Autolaunch
Any medical or trauma pt requires emergent and/or
critical care transport.
The most appropriate facility to handle patients
acuity is in a major ND city.
Local resources not available.
Not on anyone's arrival.
Not after loaded and enroute to the hospital.
Autolaunch Trauma
High speed
Ejection
Rollovers
Extended extrication
Multiple patients
Death in vehicle
Trauma center >20
minutes away
Burns
Amputations
Changes in LOC
Falls >3 x pts height
MCC >20 MPH
Unstable or possibly
unstable airway
Car vs Pedestrian
Autolaunch Medical
Cardiac or post arrest
STEMI
Stroke like symptoms
Unstable vital signs
Any trauma/medical patient needing
quick access to specialized critical care
and immediate transport.
Contacting Air-Medical
Fargo, Sanford LifeFlight 800-437-6886
Minot, NorthStar CritiCare 701-852-2222
Bismarck, Angel AirCare 855-254-5655
Aberdeen, CareFlight 800-592-1889
HEMS does not count fixed wing transport.
What Air-Medical needs to know
Usual dispatch information
Nature of the call
Where is the scene?
Closest town and intersecting roads
GPS coordinates
The ground unit(s) responding
Must have a ground ambulance respond
also
Communication
Need communication with:
Local Dispatch Center
Deputy
Responding Fire Department
First Responders
Responding Ambulance
Radio Communication
State Wide EMS
ND State Radio
MNSEF
ND Mutual Aid
Channel 3
Regional Channels
Information for LZ
Flat and level
100’ X 100’
Relay obstacles
Wind direction
Wires
“Together we save lives”
Air-Medical can’t do their job, without you!
HEMS is an excellent additional resource
We need:
Communication
Early activation
Teamwork
○ Local Dispatch Centers
○ Ambulance/FR/Fire/S.O.
We all have the same goal!
What’s best for the patients.
Thank You!