Search and Rescue Helicopters for Emergency Medical Service Assistance: A Retrospective Study.
Air Medical Journal · 2021-01-01 · Observational study
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The time until treatment is a crucial factor for the outcome after medical emergencies. One way of reducing transportation time is the use of helicopter-based emergency medical services, but poor weather conditions, commitment to another mission, or technical problems may limit the availability. In these cases, military search and rescue (SAR) helicopters can be used. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of SAR helicopters in the civilian emergency medical system. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of SAR mission reports and SAR medical records collected from the archives of the Royal Danish Air Force for the years 2016 and 2017. RESULTS: A total of 1,262 mission reports were included with a total of 628 medical records available in the study period. There were 490 of 1,246 (39.3%) missions involving patients. Interhospital transfers accounted for 306 of 604 (50.7%) of cases, whereas island evacuation constituted 110 of 604 (18.2%) cases. The most prevalent suspected diagnosis was acute coronary syndrome (14.4%). The 30-day survival rate was 87.6%. CONCLUSION: The military SAR helicopters were most commonly activated for civilian emergency medical service mission assistance due to poor weather conditions. The most frequent medical condition was acute coronary syndrome.
Abstract © the authors or publisher, via PubMed. Reuse and removal
Tags
Helicopter & air ambulance · Interfacility & critical care transport · Military & tactical · Mortality & survival
Related articles
- Preflight Variables Are Associated With Increased Ventilator Days and 30-Day Mortality in Trauma Casualties Evacuated by Critical Care Air Transport Teams: An Exploratory Retrospective Study. (Mil Med, 2016)
- Survival and cost-effectiveness of helicopter versus ground emergency medical services: a systematic review and meta-analysis with meta-regression and trial sequential analysis. (Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med, 2025)
- Examining air medical transport in interfacility emergency general surgery transfers to a quaternary center. (J Trauma Acute Care Surg, 2025)
- Comparison of Interfacility Transfer of Critically Ill Pediatric Patients by Helicopter Versus Ground Ambulance in a Remote and Rural Domain. (Air Med J, 2024)
- Helicopter Ambulance Transport to the Emergency Department: Demographic and Clinical Factors Impacting Outcomes in a Turkish Medical Center. (Med Sci Monit, 2023)
- Pre-hospital and retrieval medicine in Scotland: a retrospective cohort study of the workload and outcomes of the emergency medical retrieval service in the first decade of national coverage. (Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med, 2023)