If EMS Helicopter Crash

Rescue helicopters are not paid to be on call. They earn money only when transporting patients. But if they transport a patient, they are highly paid – up to $ 20,000 per trip. This simple business model has worked well for the industry. In fact, the number of EMS helicopter has criss-crossed our sky quadrupled since 2002. With nearly half a million flights per year, the company air ambulance industry is now a $ 2500000000th Not too bad. But the business model that has been a boon for operators of helicopters, a scourge for flight safety has been. Since an operator is not paid when the helicopter transporting a patient, there is an incentive to complete the mission to fly regardless of the dangerous conditions. And because the operators are paid the same rate, regardless of the equipment they use during helicopter operators not to use older and these lead to lower costs and as ill equipped as possible. Not surprisingly, the helicopter EMS frequency of fatal accidents compared to other forms of commercial aviation, from the charts. In fact, it is off the charts compared to almost everything. With an accident rate that is 6000-times higher than commercial aircraft, flying a helicopter EMS is the second most dangerous job in America. Only work on a fishing boat is riskier. Reactions from the industry for industry, for its part, recognizes that accidents always unhappy. But he argues that it is essential to deliver in a trauma hospital in the first “golden hour” after injury. A helicopter is in the best of this need. Although the accident rate is high at the end more people will be rescued by helicopter EMS will be lost. At least that’s how the industry argues. But the math does not pencil industry. Here is why.

* The Need for Speed. The helicopters are fast. But when it comes to the patient enters a hospital, an ambulance is often faster. At least in urban areas, land ambulances are more widely distributed than the helicopter EMS. This means a ground ambulance are more likely to be parked near the victims of trauma. An ambulance can often good position in trauma victims to a nearby hospital as fast as a helicopter crew’s flight plan is starting to access the site, land, load, and then fly to the hospital attended by a helicopter landing pad. Basically speed advantage of a helicopter in rural areas, where land ambulances are less limited and further between. Speed ??advantage of the helicopter is overrated.

* The myth of the Golden Hour. Of course, any delay in medical intervention can be avoided. But there is nothing “golden” about the first hour after the accident. At least not for the patient. This is because the survival drops dramatically just 60 minutes after the injury. Have, in fact, peer-reviewed studies can not determine that there is a “magic moment” to save trauma victims. Of course, the patients get to hospital quickly is usually better. But the “golden hour” argument is marketing hype. » Read more: EMS Helicopter Crash Lawsuits: What’s Involved