[On-scene helicopter transport at night].
Air medical rescue services at night are associated with an increased risk for life and health of the helicopter crew. They are not allowed in all federal states of Germany and only a few bases provide this service. The advantage of short transportation times by air cannot be achieved at night due to a flight preparation phase of at least 30 minutes until lift-off. Two case reports demonstrate that requests for helicopters at night may even lead to a transportation associated delay of treatment because of the time until the helicopter arrives on-scene. Thus emergency physicians have to know the possibilities and limitations of helicopter emergency medical services at night.
Schulze
K
K
Zentrum Anästhesiologie, Abt. 1, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover. karlschulze@hotmail.com
Brummerloh
C
C
André
M
M
Adams
H A
HA
D017732:Air Ambulances; D000401:Aircraft; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans