Helicopter on Scene Flashcards
Ontario’s Air Ambulance System
What is Ontario’s air ambulance system regarded as?
One of the largest and most complex in North America
Approximately how many calls does Ontario’s air ambulance system perform per year?
20,000 calls per year
How many people does Ontario’s air ambulance system service?
13 million people
What area does Ontario’s air ambulance system cover?
1 million square kilometers
When was Ontario the first province to establish helicopter air ambulance?
1977
How many aircraft were initially established in Ontario’s air ambulance system?
1 aircraft
What significant event occurred in 2002 regarding Ontario’s air ambulance system?
Amalgamation of base hospitals in multiple locations
What was the outcome of the 2001 Coroners Inquest?
Formation of Ontario Air Ambulance Services Co. (OAASC)
What year was ORNGE established?
2006
What type of crews do the dedicated aircraft in Ontario’s air ambulance system carry?
CCP/ACP/PCP crews
How many hours are the dedicated aircraft staffed?
24 hours
Where is the rotary wing aircraft located in Ottawa?
1 aircraft
How many rotary wing aircraft are located in Toronto?
2 aircraft (Hamilton / Oshawa 2011)
List the locations where rotary wing aircraft are stationed.
- Ottawa
- Toronto (Hamilton / Oshawa)
- Thunder Bay
- Moosonee
- Kenora
- Sudbury
- London
Where are the fixed wing aircraft located?
- Sioux Lookout
- Thunder Bay
- Timmins
What type of aircraft is on call to respond?
Charter Aircraft
What types of medics are included in the air ambulance system?
Advanced and Primary Care Medics
List some locations where charter aircraft are available.
- Almonte
- Dryden
- Fort Frances
- Gravenhurst
- Hearst
- Kapuskasing
- Kenora
- Kingston
- London
- Smith’s Falls
- Sudbury
- Thunder Bay
- Timmins
- Toronto
What does Transport Canada regulate?
The operation of aircraft in Canada, including control of departures, landings, and flight paths.
What qualifications does the Ministry of Health and Transport Canada set?
Qualifications for medics and pilots, as well as maintenance standards for aircraft and equipment.
What are the flight time experience criteria for pilots?
Pilots must meet specific flight time experience criteria.
What training do pilots undergo?
Continuous training and evaluation for competency.
What are the key training areas for paramedics?
Emergency procedures, survival, underwater escape, and handling of dangerous goods.
What is the role of a flight medic?
Trained to use onboard equipment to survive emergency landings and spending nights in winter wilderness.
What is the Operations Control Centre (OCC)?
The dispatch centre responsible for daily air ambulance resources, handling approximately 20,000 calls for Air Ambulance support.
What does PTAC stand for?
PTAC refers to 400,000 numbers.
What is the On-Scene Response Program?
A Ministry of Health program utilizing air ambulance helicopters for trauma scene response.
What is the primary reason for implementing rotary winged aircraft?
Trauma scene response.
How does HEMS response affect patient care?
It can decrease mortality by reducing the time a patient receives definitive care and providing access to advanced clinical interventions.
What types of medical calls benefit from HEMS response?
Patients presenting with STEMI and CVA.
What is the benefit of specialized transport of critically ill patients?
It allows for transport without depleting local resources.
What are the operational guidelines for on-scene requests?
Request should meet at least one of the following operational guidelines:
- Land response to scene >30 minutes and air can reach scene quicker
- Land response to appropriate hospital >30 minutes
- Land and air response >30 minutes, but higher level of care required & not available on land
- Multiple patients who meet clinical criteria and land ambulances are all being used
What are the clinical guidelines for on-scene requests?
Request should meet at least one of the following clinical guidelines:
- Patient meets F.T.T.S.
- Medical conditions such as shock, acute CVA, altered LOA, acute respiratory failure, suspected AMI, resuscitation from cardiac or respiratory arrest, status epilepticus, unstable airway or partial airway obstruction
- Obstetrical conditions such as active labour with abnormal presentation, multiple gestation and active labour, umbilical cord prolapse, significant vaginal bleed.
What medical conditions qualify for on-scene requests?
Medical conditions include:
- Shock – especially hypotension with altered mentation
- Acute CVA within 6 hours of symptom onset
- Altered LOA (GCS <10)
- Acute respiratory failure or distress
- Suspected AMI or potentially lethal dysrhythmia
- Resuscitation from cardiac or respiratory arrest
- Status epilepticus
- Unstable airway or partial airway obstruction
What obstetrical conditions qualify for on-scene requests?
Obstetrical conditions include:
- Active labour with abnormal presentation
- Multiple gestation and active labour
- Umbilical cord prolapse
- Significant vaginal bleed (suspected placental abruption or placenta previa or ectopic pregnancy)
When may an air ambulance be requested?
An air ambulance may be requested if the perceived severity of reported injuries meets clinical guidelines or if the patient cannot reasonably be reached by land.
Examples include sites without road access.
What can a paramedic do after making patient contact?
A paramedic may choose to cancel the air response based on patient presentation.
What must a paramedic provide to request an air response?
A paramedic must provide the applicable operational and clinical guideline, ETA for packaging the patient for transport, and ETA at the applicable receiving facility.
Will land crews delay transport for an air response?
No, land crews will not delay transport to wait for an air response.
Under what conditions may a land crew rendezvous with an air ambulance?
A land crew may rendezvous if the air unit can land along the direct route of the land ambulance and it significantly reduces transport time to the appropriate hospital.
Who should assume the role of Landing Site Coordinator?
One rescuer, usually from the fire department, should be chosen as the Landing Site Coordinator.
What protective apparel is required for the Landing Site Coordinator?
The required protective apparel includes a visible vest/coat, helmet with visor, and safety goggles or glasses.
What are the requirements for a landing site?
A landing site must be clear of at least 150’ x 150’, have an additional safety area of 100’, be away from overhead wires, and be a flat surface without loose debris.
Who is responsible for selecting the landing site?
The pilot is responsible for selecting the landing site and has the final decision on whether to land.
What must be done to ensure safety during landing or take-off?
No vehicles or personnel should be within the landing site and safety area, and all loose articles and equipment must be secured.
What should be done if the site security is compromised?
The Landing Site Coordinator will wave off the helicopter if site security is compromised by personnel or vehicles.
What should be avoided during landing and take-off?
Stay out of the safety area and landing site, and only approach or depart the helicopter when directed by air crew.
What limitations are there for HEMS responding to night calls?
HEMS will not respond to night calls requiring landing at sites other than night licensed airports, helipads, or night approved remote landing sites.
Will HEMS conduct search and rescue operations?
No, HEMS will not conduct search and rescue operations.
Landing Site
Working around the helicopter
