Læknablaðið - 15.02.1994, Blaðsíða 37

LÆKNABLAÐIÐ
79
treatment and determine the outcome of patients
transported.
Retrospective review of the flight physicians’
medical records for the year 1991 was made.
Additional information was obtained from the
medical records of the hospitals to which the
patients were admitted and from the log books
of the Coast Guard Coordination Center. Using
a modification of the ASA-classification, each
patient’s condition was evaluated. The usefulness
of the helicopter as means of transportation and
the importance of the flight physician as a crew
member was evaluated as well.
Seventy two individuals were transported in 57
flights. The majority of those transported, 54 (76%)
were males. Of these 36 (56%) were between 20
and 40 years of age.
The majority or 44 (61%) of the patients
transported were trauma victims. Forty four (61%)
were classified as seriously ill or injured (class
111 to IV). Eighteen (25%) were moderately ill
or injured. Most of these patients were rescued
from the ocean or the wildemess. Ten (14%) were
healthy individuals rescued from danger at sea.
Forty three of the flights were directly to the scene,
only 14 were interhospital transfers. Approximately
one third of the individuals were flown in from
rural areas, one third from the wildemess and one
third from off shore. A helicopter was found to be
a necessary means of transportation for 32 (45%)
individuals and important for the transportation
of other 39 (54%). Treatment provided by the
flight physician was regarded as necessary for
the beneficial outcome of 13 (18%) patients and
important for 29 (40%).
Our conclusion is that helicopters are a vitaly
important component of emergency medical
services (EMS) and search and rescue (SAR) in
Iceland. A flight physician is a necessary crew
member on board the helicopter on all EMS- and
SAR- mns. Flelicopters may not yet be adequately
utilized for emergency services in Iceland.
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