I recently read of a car wreck where the injured party was taken to the hospital via air ambulance and knowing the exact area of the wreck and the hospital it was about a 20 mile trip. I realize that all injuries are very individual in how they injure, and to what degree, each person but on a trip that short did the helicopter save any time? There's a dedicated landing area very near my home and I can hear the helicopters when they come in and land there. It's roughly 30 miles by air to Huntsville Hospital and further to Birmingham as the 2 major hospitals down here. The thing that sticks in my mind is the amount of time to get the patient to that landing area while at the same time the help is getting ready for takeoff and getting here. I often wonder how much time is actually saved in a 35 mile trip (or less) by air vs the same trip vis 4 lane highway the entire distance. It sorta seems to me that a road trip could be at least halfway there, if not more, by the time the helicopter gets here. Now, don't get me wrong but it just seems to me that some of these air ambulance trips may not save any time at all.
Air ambulance observations
- Thread starter Wiley
- Start date
Yea I see what your saying, if you don't have the AirVac insurance it is costly to take a ride in one. I'm Thankful for the nurses and pilot that were on the one that flew my daughter to Erlanger on Christmas Eve of 2021. If it wasn't for them she may very well may not be here today.
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
Depends on the particular 20 to 30-mile distance, and timing.
One side to the other of a city like Memphis or Knoxville can sometimes take a long time if not via air.
One side to the other of a city like Memphis or Knoxville can sometimes take a long time if not via air.
it’s almost always faster when you take in account that ems isn’t having to deal with traffic people don’t move out of the way like you think they should and then you get to the hospital have to contend with that traffic.
A trip to the hospital can take an ambulance out of service for hours and when there is a limited number inside each county it could become detrimental to other patients
A trip to the hospital can take an ambulance out of service for hours and when there is a limited number inside each county it could become detrimental to other patients
TheLBLman
Well-Known Member
This is my opinion/observation, and I welcome disagreement,
but I believe in a critical situation, you may find the flight nurses tend to be more experienced than the ground crew 1st responders.
but I believe in a critical situation, you may find the flight nurses tend to be more experienced than the ground crew 1st responders.
I was a Paramedic for almost three decades and can say what you're seeing is probably overkill sometimes.
There are many variables and criteria though. Far as capabilities go, ground crews and flight crews are equally capable, but air has better access to certain supplies, for several reasons, thus there are a few medical procedures that they perform that most ground units can't.
I rarely call a helicopter, but when I did they better come running. I never wanted to take that resource away from someone else in need when I could handle what I had.
There are many variables and criteria though. Far as capabilities go, ground crews and flight crews are equally capable, but air has better access to certain supplies, for several reasons, thus there are a few medical procedures that they perform that most ground units can't.
I rarely call a helicopter, but when I did they better come running. I never wanted to take that resource away from someone else in need when I could handle what I had.
Are you sure the dedicated landing area isn’t more of a staging area for them? A 20 mile trip could take quite a bit of time depending on traffic, road construction, idiots, and numerous other obstacles an ambulance may encounter. I will agree with the overkill comment above. Sometimes they get called in when they’re really not needed.
backyardtndeer
Well-Known Member
Figure a lot of the air life flight choppers we see are going to major trauma level 1 capable hospitals in Nashville or Memphis. From here to Jackson by ems wouldn't take too long, but from my understanding Jackson often transfers serious injuries out to more capable hospitals. Would save a lot of time getting a chopper in and flying directly to Nashville or Memphis rather than first going to Jackson and then transferring. I guess if you have a hospital that is capable of dealing with trauma patients close enough by, air would likely be overkill.
There are only 5 level 1 trauma 1s in the state. I would bet most air evac are going to one of those 5 and not the local county hospital
mr.big
Well-Known Member
When I had the fire and my reload room exploded they took me by ambulance about 10 minutes to the air evac land site, from there it was maybe 15 minutes on to Vandy. So roughly 25 minutes from here to Vandy. At 10 mph over the limit all the way it takes me about an hour and 15 minutes. Runnin emergency traffic you might make it in an hour
Carlos
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Somebody's gotta pay for those helicopters, they don't earn any money sitting around.
Here is a fun fact. The pilot does not know what accident scene he is flying to. He looks at weather conditions and determines if
he can fly there. Once in the air they are told what they are flying to. This way he doesn’t jeopardize his crew by making a personal decision ( entrapped kid in flaming bus) or any other accident where his emotions to help might risk the safety of his flight crew.
he can fly there. Once in the air they are told what they are flying to. This way he doesn’t jeopardize his crew by making a personal decision ( entrapped kid in flaming bus) or any other accident where his emotions to help might risk the safety of his flight crew.
mr.big
Well-Known Member
They charged my insurance 34,000
cbrock84
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Plus they work 24hr shifts but the pilot can work only 12
hillbillyfab
Well-Known Member
This thread made me think about getting a membership. It looks like it starts out at $99 a year for a family. Seems like a small amount compared to what the chopper ride costs.
Not all birds fly for trauma…… my group used to get them for cardiac emergencies. For example…. Cardiologist in a small hospital with a cath lab but WITHOUT an “open heart surgery” program backup doing some complicated cath/stent case and gets in trouble, or 95% + LEFT MAIN OCCLUSION and the patient is 2 hours out from a surgical hospital, so yes, the helicopters are imperative to save lives, especially if you live great distances from tertiary care.
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Not sure if it’s overkill or not. Only certain trained people can call on life force. Not just anyone at the scene or on the ambulance. If I’m in a accident and the person in charge thinks it’s bad enough to fly, I hope they make that decision. I spent 8 years in EMS in Chattanooga, saw a lot, and never saw Life Force fly in with out a good reason. Is it expensive? Yes but it’s not time to shop around for cheaper transportation when your life’s in danger.
I saw a similar charge when a coworkers child was seriously injured.
We promptly got the family insurance after that.
You used to never hear of someone being "flown out" of the local hospital, where now it's a common occurrence and directly or near the accident site.
iowavf
Well-Known Member
Guess it depends on the price you're willing to pay for your life? Many times, a couple minutes can be the difference between living or being severely disabled.
