Helicopter crashes

[Bob Waddell]

It seems that we and the popular press jump on exactly the same bandwagon
when a tragedy such as these occur, yet I would propose that we DETERMINE
THE TIME IS RIGHT TO DISCUSS EMERGENCY MEDICAL TRANSPORTS versus the ground
vs air issue in isolation.  The recent death of a Paramedic in Delaware is
no less devastating to EMS and EM than that of the loss of life in Arizona,
California, . . .  WE have developed a system were the patient, their
family, the Physician, the Nurse, the Paramedic, the EMT, the cat can call
911 and SOMEBODY's going to the hospital in an emergency vehicle.

Unsafe vehicles, vehicles NOT specifically designed for the objectives
demanded, inadequate and inappropriate protocols, failure to decline
services for a plethora of medically valid reasons, and lack a data are only
the beginnings of why good healthcare providers and their operational Team
members are dying unjustifiably.  Let's quit the political self
congratulatory rhetoric and let's actually DO something to fix the problem!

With NNAEMSA, EMS EXPO, and NAEMSE conferences coming up in the next few
months I propose we start an ACTION Force (not Task Force), and bring the
issues forth.  I can look into finding meeting space if there is any
interest.

Take care, 
  
Bob 
  
(307) 920 - 2020 cell

bobwaddell at bresnan.net 


-----Original Message-----
From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org [mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org]
On Behalf Of McSwain, Norman E Jr.
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 9:10 AM
To: Trauma & Critical Care mailing list
Subject: RE: Richey and Helicopters

How about just comparing the "need" of air vs ground, based on the
patient's condition and the comparative difference in time. The time
must be measured in time from the incident to arrival at the hospital
not just the partial time of air vs ground drive/fly times from injury
site to the hospital. 

Example - waiting for the launch and arrival vs just starting out to
drive the distance is a variable that MUST be considered. Most folks
don't include this when they measure transport times.

Norman
 
Norman McSwain MD
Professor, Tulane School of Medicine
Trauma Director, Charity Hospital Trauma Center
norman.mcswain at tulane.edu
504 988 5111

-----Original Message-----
From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org
[mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org] On Behalf Of Robert F. Smith
Sent: Wednesday, July 02, 2008 9:39 AM
To: 'Trauma & Critical Care mailing list'
Subject: RE: Richey and Helicopters

Unfortunately there is no
NTSB mandate to investigate ambulance crashes, and there is no uniform
database for these crashes.  This makes it extremely difficult to
compare the risk of air vs. ground.

Dave,

Do you think that is something that is "fixable" if pressure was applied
by
our various august governing bodies?

Rob

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