A Report Concerning Collaboration Between a Physician-staffed Helicopter (Doctor Helicopter) and Firefighting/Rescue Helicopter

Abstract

ObjectiveIn Japan, the main helicopters that transport patients are physician-staffed helicopters (known as doctor helicopters [DHs]) and firefighter/rescue helicopters (F/RHs). We report the collaboration between F/RHs and DHs in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture. MethodsWe retrospectively investigated all of the patients who were transported by F/RHs in Shizuoka Prefecture between January 2015 and April 2018. ResultsNine cases were defined as subjects. Seven subjects had suffered trauma, 1 decompression illness, and 1 intrinsic disease. Seven of the 9 subjects were rescued from the bottom of a cliff or shore reef, and all 7 were transferred from an F/RH to a DH at the rendezvous zone near the rescue scene. One of the 9 subjects was a mass casualty event, and the remaining patient was rescued and directly transported to our hospital by an F/RH. All but 1 who was in cardiac arrest at the scene survived. ConclusionBecause relatively few subjects were managed via collaboration between an F/RH and a DH in eastern Shizuoka Prefecture, further studies will be required to investigate whether or not such a collaboration is useful for improving the outcome of sick and wounded patients.