Citation

Peters JH, van Wageningen B, Hoogerwerf N, Biert J. Air Med. J. 2014; 33(6): 296-298.

Affiliation

Department of Trauma Surgery, HEMS, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.amj.2014.07.021

PMID

25441524

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Dutch helicopter emergency medical services are available 24/7. Working without daylight brings additional challenges, both in patient care and in-flight operation. We retrospectively evaluated the safety of this nighttime helicopter transportation of patients.

METHODS: Our helicopter emergency medical service database was reviewed for all patients transported by helicopter during nighttime. Both interhospital transports and patients transported from the accident location to a hospital were included. The time traveled by helicopter was compared with the time that road transportation of these patients would have taken.

RESULTS: In total, 513 patients were transported by helicopter. Of these patients, 72 were transported during nighttime (14%); the median age was 25.3 years (range, 1.1-73.9 years). The median flight time to the hospital was 16 minutes (range, 5-42 minutes). To travel by road, this would have taken a median of approximately 44 minutes (range, 23-100 minutes). When comparing these travel times, a significantly faster transport time by helicopter during nighttime was observed (P <.001). Three non-flight-specific incidents were noted.

CONCLUSION: We conclude that helicopter transportation of patients without daylight is safe and fast in a Dutch setting.

Language: en