Title: Nurse utilization in the backcountry
Abstract:
Background: Few published studies on civilian helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) hoist programs exist. This study provides a demographic analysis of hoist rescue operations performed by the only FAA Part 135 hoist-approved civilian HEMS operator in the United States.
Methods: All persons hoisted between May 29, 2001, and May 28, 2011, were retrospectively analyzed.
Results: Over a 10-year period, 212 of 214 victims were hoisted. The most common indications were fall injuries (38%) and being stranded (21%). Victim demographics showed an average age of 35 ± 17years, predominantly male (79%), often associated with trauma (66%), with a majority (68%) of all victims requiring subsequent transport to a hospital by ground ambulance (24%) or flown by Life Flight (44%). Hoists occurred most often in the afternoon (14:07 ± 3:47 hours), during the weekend (53%), in the months of May-September (71%), at an altitude of 7,488 ± 1487 feet, with the seat harness (39%) being the most common mode of victim extraction. Hoist insertion of search and rescue (SAR) personnel occurred infrequently (5%).
Conclusion: Progressive nursing is expanding beyond the hospital setting, especially in the context of remote and austere areas where outdoor recreation is on the rise. Search and Rescue (SAR) agencies, fire services and park rangers play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of individuals in these settings. Becoming a flight hoist operator is a unique and valuable skill that can make a significant difference in these situations. The results from this demographic study on hoist operations can provide important demographic information for HEMS contemplating backcountry hoist operations and programs that interface with SAR agencies.
