Abstract
At the time this article was being prepared, there had been 12 helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) accidents claiming 35 lives and injuring 6 people during the preceding 12 months, the worst safety record in the history of the air medical industry. 3 Data compiled from the Concern Network Archives. Google Scholar Throughout the history of the industry, HEMS operations have had a higher accident rate than other types of helicopter operations. 4 Blumen IJ The University of Chicago Aeromedical Network Safety CommitteeA safety review and risk assessment in air medical transport (supplement to the air medical physician handbook). Air Medical Physicians Association, Salt Lake City2002: 24 Google Scholar The air medical transport industry in North America has grown from a single hospital-based helicopter program in 1972 to 267 HEMS programs in 2007, operating a total of more than 800 helicopters. 5 Atlas and Database of Air Medical Services. Google Scholar Gordon H. Worley, Member, California Chapter, is Flight Nurse, REACH Air Medical Services, Santa Rosa, CA.
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