Who typically makes the decision to send out an EMS ship when there's been an accident?

[zippiesdrainage]

For example, someone wrecks on ATV and their buddies call 911. Do the 911 operators call for a helicopter or do they send out police and ambulances first who in turn call for a helicopter or what? I'm curious how much time passes after an accident before the decision to send a helicopter is made, if it's immediate or after crews are already at the scene.

[ridethisbike]

The dispatcher won't make that call as they have no idea the extent of the injuries.

 

Police and EMT's will be sent in and they'll decide the level of care they need and the most efficient way to get them that care.

 

For example: up in the Prescott, AZ area, the protocol for accidents that resulted in the person being ejected from their vehicle was to call in a helicopter and take them to a Level X (don't remember what level) trauma facility for possible brain injuries and what not.

 

In that example, first responders get on scene and then call for the helicopter even though they'll probably already know that a helicopter will be called.

 

It can take a while before the patient gets lifted from the scene though. Even longer if it's in a remote area. It took my buddy about 30-45 minutes from the time he wrecked his motorcycle before he was on the helicopter, then probably another 30 minutes before he was at the hospital.

[Wally]

For example, someone wrecks on ATV and their buddies call 911. Do the 911 operators call for a helicopter or do they send out police and ambulances first who in turn call for a helicopter or what? I'm curious how much time passes after an accident before the decision to send a helicopter is made, if it's immediate or after crews are already at the scene.

 

I'm just an HEMS pilot and don't know anything about the medical/emergency side, but as a 'Bus driver, this is what I see at scene calls:

 

It all depends on where you are and what medical guidance policies are in effect, and what medical resources are nearby. If there are no hospitals, much less trauma center, in the immediate area, an agency might request a helicopter based on what the 911 caller says. Example, a fall from a 3rd story roof to pavement, patient unconscious and looks really bad... the 911 Center might request a helicopter either be committed (stand by) or launch before the ambulance arrives and assesses the patient.

 

Or the emergency response agency might require the responding medical make the request for transport after evaluating the patient.

 

How quick? Where are you and how far is the ambulance from the scene? I've waited hours at an LZ while the medics got to the patient and transported to the LZ. I've landed at scenes while they were pulling people out of the steaming wreck...

Edited October 7, 2015 by Wally

[Flying Pig]

Where I am, the Paramedics on scene decide if its a Trauma Alert. The EMS helicopter sits on my hangars pad. I hear the radio in my office and hear Fire say "Central, this is going to be a trauma alert." About 3 minutes later I hear the 407 winding up.

[Goldy]

For example, someone wrecks on ATV and their buddies call 911. Do the 911 operators call for a helicopter or do they send out police and ambulances first who in turn call for a helicopter or what? I'm curious how much time passes after an accident before the decision to send a helicopter is made, if it's immediate or after crews are already at the scene.

In LA County proper, we don't use any contract EMS ships, only our fire and sheriff. (some other cities nearby use contract providers) Certain calls that have long commute times will get a helo dispatch at time of call. Another reason is the type of call. If it's a cliff hangar, car over or serious injury from a fall in our forest area, an EMS ship is also sent on initial dispatch. Otherwise, I get on scene and we decide what we need....one of our 10 patrol ships, our rescue bird, or if it's at night, maybe a fire (NVG) helicopter. But we are a county with a LOT of air assets.....3 county fire birds 24/7( B412's and Firehawks) and a sheriff SuperPuma 5/12....with another 4 birds sitting at LA City Fire as a back up....and two contract Aircrane S-64's for fire fighting. Like I said, lots of air assets.

Edited October 14, 2015 by Goldy

[McGavin]

It depends on the "mechanism of injury"

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0HAGMb_jAdU

[wants to fly]

I guess this is one place I have the knowledge to weigh in on. I am a firefighter paramedic and have been for 25 years. As others have pointed out, it depends on where you are. I have worked in the suburbs of Cleveland and in the Las Vegas areas so I have a few different experiences in the arena. For the most part 911 is called and fire/ems is dispatched to evaluate based on mechanism and/or known injuries.

 

In the small town of Pahrump; approx 1 hour away from the level 1 trauma center in vegas, it was not uncommon to have the Fire Dept. call and request a helicopter almost immediately upon being dispatched themselves. The service there was Flight for Life then later Mercy Air. Both operators made it clear they did not mind being launched right from the start and cancelled if the FD found they were not needed. Placing them on "stand by" did nothing more than alert them a call may be coming their way. This was not a good practice by the FD because it did not reserve the closest helicopter for their call. The best practice was to launch them and cancel as needed. The other issue there was that, if the closest helicopter was already being used, they could send one from Vegas 20-25 min flight time.

 

In the Cleveland area Metro Life Flight was the most commonly used air medical service. When the FD would get a call that may require air transport, they would place LF on "stand by" and this would reserve the helicopter for that call. As a matter of fact, a stand by would get them checking weather, mobilizing the crew, loading into the helicopter and actually have blades turning on the pad while awaiting the go from the FD.

 

It seems that every municipality has their own policies on use of air medical and the operators help determine those policies. Here in Las Vegas, I almost never use air medical because I can usually have the patient to the trauma center before a helicopter can leave the ground. We don't request air medical until we have assessed the scene.

 

Hope this helps.