Requesting Us
Our bases are staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
To request a flight dial 1-800-HEL-EVAC (435-3822)
To assist EMS providers and transferring institutions in determining the appropriate utilization of our services, we have provided the following Guidelines for Use of Air Medical Services*. If you have any questions and or require any clarification, please call us for assistance.
TRAUMA
- Systolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg or requiring aggressive fluid therapy to maintain above 100 mm Hg
- Severe hemorrhage
- Sustained tachycardia
- Penetrating trauma to head, neck or torso
- Age < 12 or > 55 with multiple trauma
- Burns > 20 % of body surface area, electrical in origin, or with respiratory involvement
NEUROTRAUMA
- Glasgow Coma Scale < 12
- Lateralizing neurological findings
- Penetrating or depressed skull fracture
- CT showing subdural or epidural hematoma
- Spinal cord injury or unstable spine fractures
AIRWAY & THORACIC TRAUMA
- Airway compromise
- Need for mechanical ventilation
- Substantial chest wall injury
- Evidence of aortic or great vessel injury
ABDOMINAL & PELVIC TRAUMA
- Evidence of intra-abdominal trauma, such as rigidity, bruising, or a positive diagnostic study
- Grossly bloody urine, stool or emesis
- Pelvic fracture
ORTHOPEDIC
- Limb amputation
- Contaminated, open long bone fractures
MED-SURG
- Continuous intravenous vasoactive medications
- Mechanical ventilation
- Unstable airway or potential need for mechanical ventilation
- Acute ischemic event (extremities or intestinal) requiring urgent diagnostic and therapeutic treatment
- Aortic aneurysm, dissection or rupture
- Significant gastrointestinal hemorrhage
- Unstable poisonings requiring critical care stabilization
- Uncontrolled seizure activity
- Decompression illness requiring hyper baric therapy
- Time dependent issue surrounding organ transplants
- Severe hypothermia (<82 F)
CARDIAC
- Cardiogenic Shock
- MI patients with thrombolytic contraindications or who have failed thrombolytics or otherwise determined to be a primary angioplasty candidate
- Patients requiring acute intervention not available at referring institution
PEDIATRIC**
- Patients experiencing or at high-risk for respiratory failure
- Need for invasive airway procedures
- The following unstable vital signs:
- Respiratory rate < 10 and > 60
- Systolic blood pressure < 60 in neonate
- Systolic blood pressure< 65 between 3 months and 2 years
- Systolic blood pressure < 75 between 2 and 5 years
- Systolic blood pressure < 80 between 6 and 12 years
- Near drowning with signs of hypoxia or altered mental status
- Status epilepticus
- Acute bacterial meningitis
- Unstable toxicological syndrome
- Hypothermia
- Multiple trauma
HIGH RISK OBSTETRICS
- Anticipated need for NICU services beyond the capacity of referring institution
- Premature labor or rupture of membranes less than 34 weeks or estimated fetal weight less than 2000g
- Severe pre-eclampsia or eclampsia
- Abruptio placenta or placenta previa
- Fetal hydrops
NEONATAL**
- Respiratory distress/airway obstruction
- Respiratory failure with actual or potential need for mechanical
- ventilation or CPAP
- Shock/significant acidosis
- Status epilepticus
- Multiple organ system failure
- Need for specialty referrals/evaluations requiring immediate
- interventions due to life threatening conditions
*As defined by the National Association of EMS Physicians and the Association of Air Medical Services
**Guidelines for Air and Ground Transport of Neonatal and Pediatric Patients, American Academy of Pediatrics