title: Helicopter emergency medical services roles in disaster operations.
abstract: Rotor-wing aircraft have previously proven utility in disaster operations, but recent expert reviewers have identified areas of potential improvement in integration of helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) resources into disaster planning and management. This paper discusses salient points regarding helicopter operations in disaster management, using prior reports regarding rotor-wing aircraft utilization as a basis upon which to provide a concise review of HEMS operations in disasters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114-2696, USA. thomas.stephen@mgh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Wedel
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D017732:Air Ambulances; D000401:Aircraft; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004631:Emergency Medical Service Communication Systems; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000600:supply & distribution; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D006280:Health Workforce; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D014218:Triage; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances