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- Title
A review of wilderness patient transport: a British Columbian perspective.
- Authors
Stanley, Andrew; Buhler, Holly
- Abstract
British Columbia is a mountainous province known for wilderness adventure. In British Columbia, transport of patients injured in the wilderness is conducted by a network of agencies including British Columbia Emergency Health Services (BCEHS), the Canadian Armed Forces, and 83 volunteer Search and Rescue teams. This narrative review examines select topics in order to provide allied health professionals with an understanding of resources in British Columbia and how they compare to jurisdictions elsewhere to identify areas for improvement. The mode of transport is based on the patient's condition and factors at the scene, making it important for both air and ground resources to work together smoothly to provide the greatest benefit to the patient. Often both ground and air resources are involved on a single rescue. Transport time is heavily dependent upon the distance from the site of dispatch to the patient, the environment, and the patient's condition. Methods of helicopter rescue in British Columbia include landing, winch rescue (raising the patient to a hovering helicopter), and Helicopter External Transport Systems. The combination of these three methods in British Columbia is similar to the combination in the United Kingdom. Qualification of transport personnel varies between resources, with some ground rescuers only required to hold first aid, while EHS helicopters in British Columbia are staffed by critical care paramedics who perform just as well as physicians on helicopters in other jurisdictions. Overall, British Columbia's system of wilderness transport is similar to that seen in other jurisdictions, but the field would benefit from a more robust body of research.
- Subjects
BRITISH Columbia; ALLIED health personnel; EMERGENCY medical services; RESCUE work; CHOICE of transportation
- Publication
UBC Medical Journal, 2020, Vol 11, Issue 2, p23
- ISSN
1920-7425
- Publication type
Article