DEPARTMENT

Industry News Nancy K. Hays

Arizona Oh-So-Close to Getting Air Ambulance Bill Passed A bill before the Arizona legislature to regulate air ambulances came within minutes of becoming law, but the state Senate ended the year's session before the bill could come up for a vote. According to Dave Samuels of Samaritan AirEvac, which is headquartered in Phoenix, this bill was the first of its kind to use standards from the Commission on Accreditation of Air Medical Services as part of the law. The bill (HR2091) calls for the adoption of "rules which shall establish minimum standards and requirements for the operation of air ambulance services necessary to assure the public health and safety." It further states that the current standards adopted by the Commission on Accreditation of Air Medical Services can be used as the basis of those standards and requirements. In addition, it allows for "proof that an air ambulance service is accredited by [CAAMS] in lieu of all licensing inspections . . . . "

Samuels said that the bill had made it through the House unanimously and only needed to be passed by the Senate, but time in the legislative session ran out. He is confident, however, that the bill will make it through when the legislature convenes in the fall.

If you would like a copy of the bill, contact Dave Samuels at 602/244-9327.

Air Medical Helicopter Goes Down in North Carolina Just before this issue went to press, the Concern Network in- formed Industry News about an air medical helicopter accident involving an AIRCARE Bell 412, out of North Carolina Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. All four flight crew members, nurses Karen Lynn Canada and Donna Lynn Eaton and pilots Anthony Barbee and Michael Travison, perished. They were en route to Bluefield, W.Va., to pick up a renal patient April 22 at approximately 2:30 p.m. Seven minutes out from arrival, the pilot reportedly called in per flight-following procedures. However, the aircraft failed to arrive at the airport, so a search was begun. According to the Concern Network, because of the remote site of the crash, bulldozers were needed to reach the wreckage, and unconfirmed findings indicate the aircraft im- pacted a mountain top. The helicopter was flying in a low ceil- ing, but IFR was being used.

Kalitta Now Serves West Coast Kalitta Air Ambulance of Ypsilanti, Mich., has opened a new base in Hollister, Calif. This location, which started operations May 1, will serve the western United States, Alaska and Mexico. Diana Ricker is Kalitta's program director, Kim Houchin is med-

ical crew supervisor, Mike Joseph is lead dispatcher and Patricia Harmon, MD, is medical director. Besides Ypsilanti and Hollister, Kalitta also has a base in Morfistown, Tenn.

They Should've "Ducked" A strange event happened to the University of New Mexico's Lifeguard 1. On March 28, the program's crew was flying to a scene when a duck hit the A-Star 355 and punched a hole in the cabin. The female ruddy duck left an 8-inch by 10-inch hole in the front left fuselage, as well as blood and duck debris all over the cabin.

Flight nurse Lydia Shodorf sustained a minor eye injury when the duck hit her. "It sounded like an explosion," Schodorf said. '~I'he impact caused me to see lights, see stars. I felt blood and tissue on my face and hands." Pilot Alan Epochs and flight paramedic Greg Wilson were not injured.

This University Lifeguard 1 helicopter quacked up in a case of dumb duck--literally. A duck flew into the helicopter, tearing a large hole in the fuselage in late March.

The helicopter was flying at approximately 1,000 feet above the ground and at 130 miles per hour when it crossed paths with the duck. The helicopter was able to fly back to University Hospital, where it was patched with--what else?--duct tape, and flown to a local airport. The patient was transported by ground ambulance.

According to Henry Christiansen, a spokesman for the FAA in Ft. Worth, Texas, bird strikes are not uncommon, but it's "rare to have the cabin penetrated." Lifeguard is considering changing its routes and altitudes over the migratory bird fly- way.--Submitted by Steve Shoup, Albuquerque, N.M.

Air Medical Journal 13:6 June 1994 245

New On-line Service for Physicians Physician's Online announced April 6 a new national on-line in- formation service that will provide current medical information and analytical tools that physicians need for clinical decision- making. The new service provides unlimited free use of core reference services, including MEDLINE, AIDSLINE, Physician's GenRx, QMR (a diagnostic tool with profiles of more than 600 disorders) and Global E-Mail. It is available ei- ther in Windows or Macintosh versions. Physician's Online hopes to add full-text journals and textbooks, a personalized clipping service, software libraries and interactive CME pro- grams. For membership inquiries, contact Physician's Online at 800/332-0009.

IHC Receives Second A109 Intermountain Health Care (IHC), which operates in Salt Lake City, recently took possession of its second Agusta A109K2 heli- copter. This second helicopter will be based out of Primary Children's Hospital; IHC's first A109 is based at LDS Hospital. The delivery of this aircraft completes IHC's transition from two Alouettes to the Agusta aircraft.

HAl On the Move The Helicopter Association International is moving its head- quarters as of June 13. The new building will house not only the HAI staff, but also archives of the Helicopter Foundation

International, including historical scale-model helicopters. The new address is 1635 Prince St., Alexandria, VA 22314-2818. The telephone and fax numbers will remain the same (703/683- 2626, fax 703/683-4745).

FlightSafety Approved for Bell 212 The Federal Aviation Administration has given FlightSafety a level C certification for a new Bell 212 flight simulator. The sim- ulator will be at FlightSafety's Fort Worth, Texas, center. It has been approved for FAR Part 135 check rides and can be used for type-rating flights by qualified pilots.

National Flight Paramedics Association

CREATED BY DESIRE.. DESIGNED FOR YOUR NEEi)S!

Air medical transportation has evolved to play a vital role in the care of critically ill or injured patients. Historically, paramedics have been instrumental in the development of advanced prehospital care. More recently, as services have expanded paramedics continue to be essential team members. Our goal for the National Flight Paramedics Association (NFPA) is to promote education, professionalism, recognition, and commu-

nication with all members of the prehospital care community. We believe your membership in the NFPA will assure the vital link necessary to accomplish further professional development in this unique discipline of prehospital medicine. Sign up now and be a part of the action. Join other flight paramedics in making air medical services grow and expand. CALL TODAY 818-405-9851

(CLIP AND MAIL TODAY) m m m m u m n m m m m m m m m n m m m m m m m m n n

For immediate information, complete this coupon and mail it to: NFPA (National Flight Paramedics Association) 35 South Raymond #205 • Pasadena, CA 91105

(818) 405-9851

[3 YES! I want to be a member of the NFPA! O Active/Individual Membership - $35 (3 Associate Member - $35

Name Program S.S.# HomeAddress City. S t a t e _ _ Z i p Telephone (Home) (Work)

246

FLIGHT PARAMEDICS ASSOCIATION

Air Medical Journal 13:6 June 1994