Contact MAMA through your dispatch center or by calling Mission MedCom at
1-800-962-4354 (1-800-WNC-HELI)
Trauma Patients
- Intubated multi-system trauma patient
- Hypotension or shock after initial fluid resuscitation
- Spinal column injury with incomplete cord and neurological deficit, or known vertebral fracture with risk for displacement
- Burns associated with injuries, airway or hemodynamic compromise
- Airway compromise or respiratory failure
- Persistent hypoxemia (SpO2<90%) despite aggressive treatment
- Pregnant trauma with fetal distress or vaginal bleeding (>20 weeks gestation)
- Penetrating extremity injury with neurovascular compromise
- Amputation of extremity with possibility for replantation
- Crush injury anywhere between head and thighs
- Penetrating injury to head, neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis or proximal thigh
The following are not specific indicators for air medical transfer, but should alert the treating physician or EMS of the high risk for major injury and the possibility that the patient will need transfer to a trauma center:
- High force motor vehicle collisions
- Ejection from vehicle
- Speeds >50 mph
- Rollovers
- Significant intrusion into passenger space or displacement of axle or bumper
- Death of occupant of same vehicle
- Car vs pedestrian >10 mph
- Motorcycle collision >20 mph
- Bicycle accidents >10 mph or bicycle vs car
- Falls >15 feet or 2.5 times patient height
- Prolonged extrication (>20 minutes)
- Two or more proximal long bone fractures
- Extremes of age (very young and very old)
Medical/Surgical Patients
- Post respiratory or cardiac arrest in the last 12 hours (>12 hours consider ground transport)
- High risk of airway compromise or respiratory failure with limited resources to manage the problem
- Post administration of thrombolytics with continued instability
- Continuous infustion of high doses of inotropes, vasopressors, antidysrhythmics, or pacemaker to maintain hemodynamic stability
- Need for mechanical ventilation in a patient >120 miles or >2 hours from receiving facility (otherwise consider ground transport)
- Continued chest pain, despite therapy, with or without ST changes
- IABP-consider ground transport
- Symptomatic thoracic or abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Recent instability manifested by SBP <90 mmHg or >220 mmHg with end-organ damage; HR <50 or >180; pH <7.20
- Acute stroke <6 hours from onset to arrival at receiving facility, and is a candidate for thrombolytic or interventional therapy
- Rapid neurological deterioration
- High risk OB requiring emergent transfer for preterm labor, eclampsia/preeclampsia, or fetal distress
- Carbon monoxide poisoning or decompression sickness requiring emergent hyperbaric therapy (consult physician at hyperbaric center)
Pediatric Patients
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All the above principles apply, keeping in mind that:
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Age appropriate vital signs will vary
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The pediatric patient has less compensatory reserve
System and Other Factors to Consider
- Existence of a time critical medical condition requiring treatment that is not available at the referring hospital
- The patient requires critical care transport not available from the referring hospital or local EMS provider (patient may benefit from ground critical care transport, if available)
- Impact of prolonged transport of a critical patient or the ability of the local EMS or hospital to be able to adequately meet the needs of their community
Geographic Considerations
- Patients may not be accessible by ground EMS units
- Patient location may create excessive delay in transport
- Existing road or traffic conditions may also make air transport an option
