AMES-AIR (HELICOPTER), MEDICAL, EVACUATION SYSTEMS

A SUITABILITY ANALYSIS OF NECESSARY PERSONNEL AND EQUIPMENT, A COMPUTER STUDY ON ACCIDENT EXPERIENCE, AND A NINE-MONTH DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM WERE CONDUCTED IN ARIZONA CONCERNING OPERATION OF A MILITARY TYPE AIR MEDICAL EVACUATION SYSTEM FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC BY THE ARIZONA HIGHWAY PATROL. A FAIRCHILD-HILLER HELICOPTER WHICH IS TURBINE POWERED AND CAPABLE OF OPERATING UP TO 150 MILES FROM HOME BASE WITHOUT REFUELING WAS CHOSEN FOR THE PROJECT. THE PARAMEDICS SELECTED WERE VOLUNTEERS FROM HIGHWAY PATROL FIELD PERSONNEL. THE MEN HAD DEVELOPED FIRST AID TECHNIQUES, WERE ACCUSTOMED TO HANDLING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS, AND HAD FACED A VARYING DEGREE OF TRAUMATIC SHOCK. TO BETTER EQUIP THE MEN FOR THE JOB OF PARAMEDIC THEY WERE GIVEN AN INTENSIVE 30 HOUR TRAINING COURSE IN PARAMEDICAL PROCEDURES AT A HOSPITAL. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A 10 DAY EMERGENCY ROOM DUTY ASSIGNMENT. THE PILOTS ALSO COMPLETED THE MEDICAL TRAINING. THE HELICOPTERS WERE EQUIPPED WITH STANDARD FIRST AID SUPPLIES, MEDICAL EQUIPMENT INCLUDING OXYGEN AND RESUSCITATOR, A RESUSCITATION BAG, SUCTION DEVICE, AIR SPLINTS, BLOOD CUFF AND ANEROID, ELECTRONIC PULSE MONITOR, AIRWAYS OF VARIOUS SIZES, STETHOSCOPE, AND MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS SUCH AS ALCOHOL SWABS AND TONGUE DEPRESSORS. ALL MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, EXCEPT OXYGEN AND AIR SPLINTS, WAS CONTAINED IN TWO SMALL PLASTIC KITS WITH AN APPROXIMATE WEIGHT OF EIGHT POUNDS. THE HELICOPTERS WERE EQUIPPED WITH FOUR-CHANNEL FM TRANSCEIVERS. THREE CHANNELS WERE ON HIGHWAY PATROL OPERATIONAL FREQUENCIES AND THE FOURTH WAS A CLEAR FREQUENCY DIRECT TO THE HOSPITAL IN PHOENIX. REQUESTS FOR SERVICE EXCEEDED THE ANTICIPATED RESPONSE. AT THE END OF THE FIRST 30 DAYS OF OPERATION, AMES HAD FLOWN 96 MISSIONS OF ALL TYPES AND HAD EVACUATED 22 MEDICAL EMERGENCIES. PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE AND COOPERATION FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCICES WAS OUTSTANDING.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 37, No 6, PP 22, 26, 28, PHOTS
• Authors:
  • Hegarty, J J
• Publication Date: 1970-6

Media Info

• Serial:
  • POLICE CHIEF

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Communication systems; Disasters and emergency operations; Evacuation; First aid; Frequency modulation; Hazards and emergency operations; Helicopters; Medical services; Radio
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00220965
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 26 1970 12:00AM