Airborne Care of the Ill and Injured / Edition 1

by E.L. McNeil

Overview

From the unique position of a decade in government service, I was given the opportunity to observe the changes in the provision of emer­ gency medical care across the country. In 1970, Emergency Medical Service (EMS) systems were a new and much needed development in the national health care delivery system. A systems approach to field casualty care has been progressively improved during each successive military conflict since the Civil War. These improvements were ini­ tiated after the rnedil:al care and evacuation disaster experienced by the Union Army of the Potomac at Bull Run on July 21, 1861. During the Civil War, major changes in administration, professional personnel, transportation, hospitals, sanitation, and medical records established patterns that have been continually refined and improved. Stimulated by the pressing demands of war surgery and coupled with parallel advances in medical care over the last century, an almost unbelievable level of performance was realized in Vietnam. Advances in field resuscitation, efficiency of aeromedical transportation, and energetic treatment of military casualties have proved to be major fac­ tors in the decrease in death rates of battle casualties reaching facilities: from 8% in World War I to 4. 5% in World War II to 2. 5% in Korea and to less than 2% in Vietnam.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781468486810
Publisher:	Springer New York
Publication date:	04/26/2012
Edition description:	1983
Pages:	210
Product dimensions:	5.51(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.02(d)

Table of Contents

1. The Attendant and His Environment.- The Medical Flight Attendant.- The Aviation Environment.- Duties to the Patient.- The Cockpit Crew.- 2. Regulations and Operations.- The Air Ambulance.- Federal Aviation Administration Regulations: Excerpts.- Equipment and Inventory Control.- Documentation.- Loading and Unloading.- Orientation and Posture.- Engines Running.- Communications.- Refueling.- Other Mission Considerations.- Helicopter Operations.- 3. Aeromedical Care.- Modifications of Care.- Oxygenation.- Intravenous Therapy.- Care of the Trauma Patient.- Airborne Cardiac Care.- Adjuncts to Care.- Diabetes Mellitus.- Alcoholism.- Neurologic Disorders.- Psychiatric Care.- Obstetric and Gynecologic Conditions.- Neonatal Care.- Transporting Children.- Hemoglobin Levels and Altitude (Anemia).- Emergencies in the Air.- Airsickness.- 4. Appendices.- International Missions.- Transfer of Patients by Scheduled Commercial Airlines.- The Future of Air Ambulancing.