Air medical transport of patients from offshore oil and gas facilities. Historical accident data and initial experience.
The offshore petroleum exploration and production industry (OSI) is isolated from traditional means of access to emergent health care and may benefit from the unique attributes of helicopter air medical transport. This study was undertaken to review the incidence of OSI-related incidents, injuries and deaths, and report the initial experience of a civilian hospital-based helicopter air transport program in the evacuation of offshore patients. It was learned that the mean annual incidence of major OSI accidents from 1980 to 1986 was 19.1 (+/- 7.0). Mean annual mortality and reported injury were 14.7 (+/- 7.6) and 36.7 (+/- 25.4) patients respectively. Fires and explosions were the most frequently reported events at 62 per year (+/- 11.5/year). Nine OSI patients were evacuated by helicopter during the study's eight-month pilot period (seven for trauma and two for medical illness). One of the nine patients had been exposed to a potentially hazardous substance, requiring changes in the air medical team's operations, aircraft and equipment. The study shows that the offshore petroleum environment is ideally suited for air medical transport, as injuries are common and medical illnesses are to be expected. However, air medical programs operating offshore must deal with additional regulatory requirements and develop operational procedures to ensure safety during these flights.
Methodist Hospital, Houston.
D H
DH
Taylor
R
R
Casta
V
V
Walker
F
F
Collier
R E
RE
Fromm
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000401:Aircraft; D003625:Data Collection; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005579:Fossil Fuels; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology