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!