Does the air ambulance service provide the required equipment and medications to conduct critical care transports?
Air ambulance aircraft shall have the following
minimum equipment in addition to portable
medical equipment carried:
For domestic, North American and Caribbean
transports:
-
One FAA approved stretcher and base for
each patient
- A medical Oxygen system with the capacity
to transport a ventilator dependent patient from
the transport origin to the destination, including
fuel stops, while maintaining a 25% reserve
without service or refilling
- 2 – 115 vac/60hz electrical outlets
- 50 psi air compressor
- Vacuum pump with adequate suction for
one suction canister
For South America, North Atlantic and Pacific
transports:
§ One FAA approved stretcher and base for
each patient
§ A medical Oxygen system with the
capacity to transport a ventilator dependent
patient from the transport origin to the
destination, including fuel stops, while
maintaining a 25% reserve without service or
refilling
§ Dual electrical inverters with 6-115
vac/60hz electrical outlets
§ Dual 50 psi air compressor
§ 2 Vacuum pumps with adequate suction
for one suction canister
The medical oxygen range of the aircraft is
especially important on long distance transports
and the highest priority on over the ocean
flights. Medical oxygen is not always available
in foreign locations, or due to different standard
connection fittings, may not be compatible with
U.S. equipment.
International medical aircraft should have an
un-replenished oxygen supply on board to
safely transport a ventilator dependent patient
the entire transport, including fuel stops, and
have a 25% reserve in case of unexpected
delays. This standard can require 40-60 hours of
medical oxygen to be available on the aircraft.
A suctioning device should be part of the
aircraft medical equipment as well as a portable
device for use during the ground ambulance
portion of the transport.
All needed fluids and medications required by
the patient during the transport should be
provided, to include adequate surplus to
accommodate potential flight delays. Fluids
should be administered during the flight with
the use of flight approved intravenous pumps to
avoid fluid boluses that may result at altitude
with physiological gas changes.
Programs should develop diversion plans and
procedures to accommodate all patient care
needs in the event of unplanned lengthy delays.