Time Course of Hoist Operations by the Search and Rescue Helicopter Service in Southeast Norway

Martin Samdal; Helge Eiding; Lars Markengbakken; Jo Røislien; Marius Rehn; Mårten Sandberg

doi:10.1016/j.wem.2019.06.004

Time Course of Hoist Operations by the Search and Rescue Helicopter Service in Southeast Norway

Wilderness Environ Med. 2019 Dec;30(4):351-361. doi: 10.1016/j.wem.2019.06.004. Epub 2019 Oct 22.

Authors

Martin Samdal¹, Helge Eiding², Lars Markengbakken³, Jo Røislien⁴, Marius Rehn⁵, Mårten Sandberg⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Research, Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, Oslo, Norway; Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Department of Anesthesiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. Electronic address: martin.samdal@norskluftambulanse.no.
² Department of Research, Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, Oslo, Norway; Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Department of Anesthesiology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
³ Royal Norwegian Air Force 330 Squadron, Rygge, Norway.
⁴ Department of Research, Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, Oslo, Norway; Department of Health Studies, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway.
⁵ Department of Research, Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, Oslo, Norway; Department of Health Studies, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway; Prehospital Division, Air Ambulance Department, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
⁶ Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Prehospital Division, Air Ambulance Department, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.

PMID: 31653552
DOI: 10.1016/j.wem.2019.06.004

Abstract

Introduction: Optimal dispatch of emergency medical services relies on accurate time estimates of the various prehospital stages. Hoist rescue work time intervals performed by the search and rescue (SAR) helicopter service in Norway have not been studied to date. We aimed to describe the epidemiologic, operational, and medical aspects of the SAR service in southeast Norway. To complement the prehospital timeline, we performed simulated hoist operations.

Methods: We reviewed time and patient descriptors and medical interventions in hoist operations performed at a SAR base over 5 y. In addition, a simulation study measuring hoist rescue time intervals was performed. Data are presented as mean±SD, except National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) scores, which are presented as modes.

Results: There were 148 hoist operations performed during the study period, involving 180 patients. Time to take-off was 13±7 min. There were 88 patients (49%) who were injured; 53 (29%) had a medical condition, and 39 (22%) were evacuees. The mode of the NACA score was 3. Forty-five patients (25%) had an NACA score of 4 to 6. Medical interventions were performed on 77 patients (43%) in 73 operations (49%). Nine patients (5%) were endotracheally intubated, and 1 thoracostomy was performed. The simulated rescuer access time was 4±2 min, the simulated anesthesiologist access time was 6±2 min, and the simulated hoist extrication time was 13±2 min.

Conclusions: Hoist rescue was performed in 10% (n=148) of the SAR operations. New information about hoist extrication time intervals can improve rescue helicopter dispatch accuracy.

Keywords: air ambulance; emergency medical dispatch; emergency medical services; rescue work; risk management; time management.

MeSH terms

Air Ambulances*
Data Collection
Emergency Medical Services*
Humans
Norway
Rescue Work*
Retrospective Studies
Time Factors