HELICOPTER AMBULANCES: AN EVALUATION OF THEIR OPERATIONAL AND ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY

EXPERIMENTAL CIVILIAN HELICOPTER AMBULANCE PROGRAMS ARE REVIEWED WITH EMPHASIS ON THE AIR MEDICAL EVACUATION SYSTEM (AMES) DEVELOPED BY ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY, AND THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY MEDICOPTER PROGRAM. THE MAJOR COMPONENTS OF AN AERIAL MEDICAL EVACUATION SYSTEM ARE RAPID AIRLIFT BY HELICOPTER TO AND FROM THE ACCIDENT SCENE OR TRANSFERRING HOSPITAL; TRAINED MEDICAL PERSONNEL - EITHER PARA-MEDICS OR PHYSICIANS - FOR ADMINISTERING ON-SITE AND EN ROUTE MEDICAL TREATMENT; GOOD COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN HIGHWAY PATROL FORCES, THE HELICOPTER, AND MEDICAL FACILITIES; AND CLOSE COORDINATION AND COOPERATION AMONG THE PARTICIPATING GROUPS. IN GENERAL, THE COST OF OPERATING AERIAL MEDICAL EVACUATION SYSTEMS IS HIGH IN DOLLAR TERMS. IT IS NOT HIGH, HOWEVER, WHEN ONE CONSIDERS THE POTENTIAL IN LIVES SAVED AND LIVES LESS-IMPAIRED BY INJURIES SUSTAINED FROM ACCIDENTS. /AUTHOR/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 19, No 7, PP 1-7
• Authors:
  • Bartlett, H C
• Publication Date: 1971-7

Media Info

• Serial:
  • TRAFFIC DIGEST AND REVIEW
  • Publisher: Northwestern University, Evanston

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Emergency vehicles; Helicopters; Medical services
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00221435
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 3 1971 12:00AM