Safety of emergency medical service helicopters

Garner, Alan A; Konemann, Jeff; Keetelaar, Deanne M

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2005.tb06545.x

Topics

Robust safety specifications and funding arrangements are needed

A recent review of the safety of helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) in the United States found that the risk of death for a HEMS crewmember (per hour engaged in the activity) was similar to that of rock climbers and skydivers.1 The study on the accident and fatality rate of HEMS by Holland and Cooksley (page 17) in this issue of the Journal2 is a timely reminder of the risks faced by HEMS crew in Australia.

1 NRMA CareFlight/NSW Medical Retrieval Service, Sydney, NSW.
2 Aerosafe Risk Management, Sydney, NSW.

Correspondence: alang@careflight.org

1. Blumen I, and the UCAN Safety Committee. A safety review of risk assessment in air medical transport. Supplement to the Air Medical Physician Handbook, November 2002. Salt Lake City, Utah: Air Medical Physician Association, 2002.
2. Holland J, Cooksley DG. Safety of helicopter aeromedical transport in Australia: a retrospective study. Med J Aust 2005; 182: 17-19.
3. Reason J. Human error: models and management. BMJ 2000; 320: 768-770.

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