Baptist LifeFlight
History of Aeromedicine
• Began With Korean War
• Evolution Continued Into Vietnam War
• Vietnam Became Origin of Modern Day Paramedics
Civilian Use Begins
• Flight For Life Began Operations In 1972
• Baptist LifeFlight Began Operations In 1977
• 3rd Oldest Flight Program In U.S.
Baptist LifeFlight
• Serving Community For 31 Years
• Oldest Flight Program In Florida
• #1 In Nation In Customer Satisfaction
• Baptist Hospital In Top 100 Places To Work In U.S. By Fortune Magazine For Past 7 Years
Baptist LifeFlight
• Now With Four Locations To Better Serve The Community
• All Helicopters Dispatched From One Local Communications Center
• One Call Will Access The Closest Aircraft
Why Use A Helicopter?
• Rapid Transport
– The Golden Hour
– Definitive Care Is In the O.R.
– The Nearest Hospital May Not Be Prepared For This Level Of Treatment
– Specialty Care May Be Needed
Indications - Trauma
• State Trauma Alert Criteria• ACS Guidelines
– GCS Less Than 10 OR A Falling Score– Penetrating Injuries– Depressed Skull Fractures– Suspected Cardiac Or Intrathoracic Injuries– Patients At Extremes Of Age– Accident Mechanism
Indications - Trauma
• Prolonged Extrication
• Traffic Congestion
• Overwhelmed Local Resources
• Environmental Roadblocks
• No ALS Care Available
Indications - Medical
• Chest Pain/ AMI
• Breathing Difficulty
• Suspected CVA
• Poisonings/ Overdoses
Crew Configuration
• Medical Crew Consists of Paramedic and Registered Nurse
• Paramedics Come From High Volume EMS Systems and Fire Departments
• Nurses Have Background in Both ICU and Emergency Department
• Both Crewmembers Undergo Further Training With Medical Control MDs
Specialized Training
• ACLS, PALS, BTLS• Crew Resource Management• HUET training• Advanced Procedures
– Central Line Placement– Rapid Sequence Induction– Needle Thoracostomy– Pericardiocentesis
LifeFlight 1
- Based at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, FL
LifeFlight 2
- Based at
EMS 20 Station
in Semmes, AL
LifeFlight 3
-Based at Evergreen Medical Center in Evergreen, AL
LifeFlight 4
• Based at Bobby Chain Airport in Hattiesburg, MS
Latest Aviation Technology
Experience Counts!
• Pilots Have An Average Of 3000 Flight Hours Before Being Hired
• Pilots Receive Specialized Training
– Certified In Aircraft Type
– Specially Trained For Non-Certified Landing Zones
– NVG Certified
Night Vision Goggles
Night Vision Goggles (NVGs)
• Recommended By AAMS, NTSB, And The FAA To Prevent Incidents/accidents
• Dramatically Improves Ability To See In No Or Low Light Conditions
• LifeFlight Is The Only Program On The Gulf Coast Using NVGs
Night Vision Goggles
• Amplify Available Light Up To 40,000 Times
• Exterior Lights (Night Sun, Exterior Lights, etc) can enhance NVG effectiveness
• NVGs Allow Brighter Cockpit Lighting
• $100,000 Investment Per Ship
Celestial Light
Cigarette Lighter
Cigarette Lighter 1000ft AGL
Cell Phone Light 2km
Cloud Formations
NVG ’S vs Nig ht S un
Commitment To Safety
• All LifeFlight Aircraft Have Excellent Safety Record
• NVGs Add To Safety For Night Ops
• Satellite Tracking Systems On All Aircraft
• Expanded Operational Control
1-800-874-1555
• One Call Does It All!
• Auto-Launch Vs Standby
• Location With Crossroad
• Landing Zone Contact
• Hazards in Landing Zone Area
Special Considerations
• Haz-Mat
• Multiple Patients
• Scene Security
• Patient Size
• Family Members
OK, We Called But You Didn’t Come!
Reasons We Can’t Be There When You Call
• Weather
– Here, There, In Between
• Maintenance
– Scheduled
– Unscheduled
• On Another Flight
Landing Zone Preparation
• (S) Size of Landing Zone: 100 X 100
• (L) Landing Area: Mark With Cones
During Day And Lights At Night
• (O) Obstacles: Poles, Wires, Trees, Etc.
• (W) Winds: Current Wind Direction
Landings
• Helicopter Landings Generate High
Winds
• Have All LZ Crew Face Away From LZ
or Have Eye Protection
• Close All Doors And Windows
• Secure All Loose Objects
Landings (Cont.)
• Stop All Radio Traffic Including Emergency Vehicles
• All White Lights Off
• Wet Down Dirty or Sandy Areas
• No Radio Traffic Other Than LZ Officer To Aircraft
• If Unsafe, Call “Abort” And Wave Off
Roadway Landings
• If Using Roadway For LZ, Be Sure Traffic Flow Is Blocked In All Directions
• Use Apparatus To Block Roads
• Constantly Monitor Motorists For Unexpected Actions
• Watch For Bystanders
Staging Apparatus
• LifeFlight Recommends Positioning Fire Apparatus Near LZ And Keeping Firefighters On The Protected Side Of The Apparatus While Aircraft Is Landing
• This Practice Provides Greater Margin Of Safety Than Having Unprotected Personnel At The End Of Charged Line During Landings
Ground Operations
• LZ Officer To Remain In LZ For Security
• Tail Rotor Guard For Hot Loads
• Only Emergency Personnel Allowed Inside LZ
• Scene Control Is Critical!!!
Security and Crowd Control• Keep Bystanders Over
200’ From LZ And
Helicopter
• Keep Non-Essential
Personnel Out Of
Approach And
Departure Paths
• Ensure No Smoking Or
Hazardous Activity
Within 200’
Protect Your Patient
• Remain In Safe Area
– Report And Assessment In Ambulance If Possible
– Protect Patient From Flying Debris If Outside
Crew Assistance
• Protective Clothing And Eye Protection
• Flight Crew Will Request Specific
Responders For Assistance
• Do Not Approach Aircraft Unless
Directed By Flight Crew
Always Avoid the Tail Rotor!!
Hot & Cold Loads• Hot
– Engines Running– Hearing And Eye Protection Necessary– Preferred When Patient Is Readily Accessible
• Cold– Aircraft Shut Down– Used When Access To Patient Is Delayed
DON’T APPROACH AIRCRAFT UNTIL CREW SIGNALS!!
When We’re Gone
• Please Maintain Integrity Of The LZ For Several Minutes After Departure
• In An Unforeseen Emergency, We Will Return To The LZ
Summary
• Turn On Vehicle Lights
• No Flares
• Turn Off White Lights For Landings And Takeoffs
• No Spotlights Aimed At Aircraft
• No Hand Signals Necessary
• LZ Officer Has Overall Authority For LZ
Questions?
Questions?
Thanks For All You Do!Thanks For All You Do!
Top Related