Indications for Helicopter Transport

• Mechanism of Injury
      o Prolonged extrication > 20 minutes
      o Passenger in vehicle in which there was a fatality
      o Victim was ejected from vehicle
      o Pedestrian hit by vehicle traveling > 20 mph

• Patent Condition
      o Multi-system trauma
      o Decrease level of consciousness
      o GCS< 10-12
      o Respiratory compromise
      o Shock
      o Spinal Injury with neuro compromise

• Industrial Accidents
      o Critical burns
      o Falls > than 3 times the victims height

• Med/Surg Patients
      o Cardiac patient
      o Inotropic drugs
      o Chronotropic drugs
      o Thrombolytics in progress
      o IABP required
      o Respiratory arrest or severe distress
      o Altered level of consciousness with altered vital signs
      o Cardiopulmonary arrest when BLS and ACLS have been provided within 8
         minutes of complete arrest
      o Post cardiac/respiratory arrest within previous 12 hours
      o Status epilepticus
      o Acute intracranial bleed requiring neurosurgery consult

• Trauma (other than MVA’s)
      o Critical burns and electrical burns of any size
      o Penetrating trauma with shock or potential for shock
      o Head or spinal trauma with neuro compromise
      o Amputation or near amputation
      o Multiple fractures with altered vital signs

• Other Patient Considerations
      o OB emergencies with fetal distress, maternal shock or complications of     
         pregnancy or delivery
      o Abdominal pain with altered vital signs
      o Neonatal transports for Level III NICU admission

• General Criteria
      o Patient requires ALS during transport which is not available from
         local ground units
      o Specific and/or timely treatment required is not available at referring hospital
      o Area was inaccessible to regular ground traffic
      o Use of ground transport would leave area without coverage by local EMS

Links: EMS Transport PDF      Hospital Transfer PDF