Flagstaff Tragedy

[Connie Potter]

The critical comments re: Flagstaff's tragic crash appear to come mostly
from those least familiar with the rural nature of emergency care and
distances, the diminishing numbers of "volunteer EMT's" able to leave
their primary catchment area to transport a patient, AND the lack of
access to even LIV trauma care in the great mass of this US, but who
wish to second guess those who are no longer alive to rebut statements
that they flew/died for nothing.  

Many trauma systems review every airmedical use. Portland OR's ATAB
forbids them within 40 miles of the scene because they delay care.   The
rest of the rural American often does not have the luxury of even
calling for airmed resources because there are none.  Rural hospitals
are losing specialists at an alarming rate so patients are being
transported for "routine stuff"?   Sorry, but not to an FP.   

No problems with spiders?  Where do you live?  A Brown Recluse caused
one of my patients to lose her arm by the time it necrosed to the bone.
This time the unlucky patient was a college student at U of M in
Missoula, a firefighter from my home town.  We at home will think of him
as having died in service, thank you very much.  

Except for a few of this list, the callous comments any time one of
flights goes down becomes increasingly demeaning to those who get out
daily to place their life and safety on the line.  No, we don't try to
fly when it is unsafe and we do flight following because it is.  My
flight crew was in the air on the Columbia Gorge when Mt St. Helens
blew: Should we have factored that possibility into all of our flight
plans?  And if flying is so easy, why did Scott Crossfield die after his
plane tore apart in a thunderstorm?  Even the best don't always make it.
God Rest Them and Give Them Peace and pray for the survivor.  And, don't
preach unless you've been there.  

Connie Potter


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