med copters collide

[Marc Matthews - MedPro MMC X]

Agreed. There was a government scolding about a year ago suggesting that these companies do a better job at policing themselves or else the government would step in. What ever became of that?
 
MRM

________________________________

From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org on behalf of Errington Thompson 
Sent: Sun 6/29/2008 8:53 PM
To: trauma-list at trauma.org; ccm-l at ccm-l.org
Subject: med copters collide



Ken has been talking about this for years.  We have too many copters flying
for non-emergencies.  This is a very bad tragedy.



>From CNN:



(CNN) -- At least six people were dead and one critically injured Sunday
after a midair crash between two medical helicopters near a hospital in
Arizona, authorities said.

The collision, at Flagstaff Medical Center in Flagstaff, Arizona, set fire
to a 10-acre area, according to fire officials, and another two rescue
workers were injured by a secondary explosion after the crash.

The helicopters collided at roughly 3:45 p.m. local time, according to the
Federal Aviation Administration.

"As you can imagine, we've got lots of heaps of metal to go through," said
Capt. Mark Johnson of the Flagstaff Fire Department. "It's just difficult
right now."

He said a landing pad on the roof of the hospital is used by medical
helicopters.

Federal Aviation Authority officials originally had reported at least seven
deaths and three critical injuries, but they revised those numbers after
investigators spent more time on the scene.

Flagstaff Police Department Sgt. Tom Boughner said the two rescue workers
were not immediately believed to be seriously injured. He said the
helicopters crashed into a wooded area near a neighborhood and that no one
on the ground was believed to have been injured or killed in the crash.

He said the fire had been contained by Sunday evening.

FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said at least one of those killed in the collision
was a patient.

He said three of those killed, including the patient, were aboard a Bell 407
helicopter operated by Air Methods Corporation, an air medical service
provider. The other helicopter, operated by Classic Helicopter Service of
Utah, also was a Bell 407. The other four victims, including the one
critically injured, were on that helicopter.

Both helicopters were headed to the hospital at the time of the crash,
Gregor said.

FAA safety inspectors from Phoenix, Arizona, were en route to the scene
Sunday, and additional inspectors from Washington were expected to arrive
Monday morning. The National Transportation Safety Board will lead a probe
into the crash, Gregor said.





Errington C. Thompson, MD, FACS, FCCM

Trauma/Surgical Critical Care

Author -  <http://www.whereistheoutrage.net> Letter to America

Asheville, NC

  _____ 

From: ccm-l-bounces at lists.ccm-l.org [mailto:ccm-l-bounces at lists.ccm-l.org]
On Behalf Of KMATTOX at aol.com
Sent: Sunday, June 29, 2008 11:20 PM
To: trauma-list at trauma.org
Cc: SURGINET at listserv.utoronto.ca; ccm-l at ccm-l.org
Subject: [CCM-L] Monocled Cobra bite



For the endemic and usual kinds of poisonous snake bites in the United
States I have always proposed to be very sparingly in using antivenin.
Today we received a patient arriving less than 40 minutes after being bitten
on the finger by a monocled cobra.    He breeds and raises these snakes and
his business is known to the authorities and the game warden near his house.




Shortly after arrival his respiration just stopped and he was intubated.
He was sedated as if he had been given a muscle relaxant.   His BP,clotting
studies were basically normal.   His TEG was normal.     He required no
pressors.    He had basically NO swelling or discoloration at the site of
the bite as we usually see in US poisonous snakes.     We called around the
country and the consensus was that he should receive specific antivenin.
The closest antivenin was 1/4 the way across Texas (None in Houston or
Galveston), so it was flown here and he has received 6 vials of Naja
specific antivenin.    He is in the ICU and being supported with the usual
ICU care.  





The reason I am posting this is for several reasons: 



1.    Cobra bites are RARE in the United States

2.    I find that cobra breeders and sellers are fairly common in the United
States

3.    I found that the NEUROLOGIC paralysis was rapid and sure, and the
hematological and coagulopathies effects of the antivenin were not seen.  

4.    Several of you on this web site have seen cobra bites.    



I am seeking wisdom and advice as well as long range outcomes and effects.
I feel certain that we will receive a large variety of opinion and advice.
We will receive and welcome any and all and will weigh all advice against
his clinical course.  



Thanks in advance.    





  _____ 

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