PREHOSPITAL CARE

Appropriate use of helicopters to transport trauma patients from incident scene to hospital in the United Kingdom: an algorithm

J J M Black¹, M E Ward², D J Lockey³

¹ Emergency Department, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
² Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics, John Radcliffe Hospital and Oxfordshire Ambulance NHS Trust
³ Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Mr J J M Black
Emergency Department, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; john.black{at}orh.nhs.uk

A simple algorithm has been produced to assist front line ground ambulance personnel, air ambulance crews, and immediate care doctors attending trauma patients in selecting the most appropriate mode of transport from the incident scene to hospital.

Keywords: transport; trauma; helicopter; algorithm; prehospital care

Abbreviations: ED, emergency department; RSI, rapid sequence induction; GCS, Glasgow coma score

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