title: Helicopter emergency medical services in major incident management: A national Norwegian cross-sectional survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) aim to bring a highly specialised crew to the scene of major incidents for triage, treatment and transport. We aim to describe experiences made by HEMS in Norway in the management of major incidents.
  
  
  METHODS
  Doctors, rescue paramedics and pilots working in Norwegian HEMS and Search and Rescue Helicopters (SAR) January 1st 2015 were invited to a cross-sectional study on experiences, preparedness and training in major incident management.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified a total of 329 Norwegian crewmembers of which 229 (70%) responded; doctors 101/150, (67%), rescue paramedics 64/78 (82%), pilots 64/101, (63%). HEMS and SAR crewmembers had experience from a median of 2 (interquartile range 0-6) major incidents. Road traffic incidents were the most frequent mechanism and blunt trauma the dominating injury. HEMS mainly contributed with triage, treatment and transport. Communication with other emergency services prior to arrival was described as bad, but good to excellent when cooperating on scene. The respondents called for more interdisciplinary exercises.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HEMS and SAR crewmembers have limited exposure to major incident management. Interdisciplinary training on frequent scenarios with focus on cooperation and communication is called for.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, Drøbak, Norway.|Department of Health Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway.|Department of Anaesthesiology, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Anne Siri
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Johnsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, Drøbak, Norway.|Department of Health Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway.|Air Ambulance Department, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Stephen J M
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Sollid
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, Drøbak, Norway.|Norwegian Air Ambulance Ltd, Lørenskog/Dombås Base, Lørenskog/Dombås, Norway.
authors.forename: Trond
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vigerust
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, Drøbak, Norway.|Norwegian Air Ambulance Ltd, Lørenskog/Dombås Base, Lørenskog/Dombås, Norway.
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jystad
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Development, Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation, Drøbak, Norway.|Department of Health Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway.|Department of Anaesthesiology, Division of Emergencies and Critical Care, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rehn
mesh_terms: D017732:Air Ambulances; D000401:Aircraft; D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000379:methods; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D054527:Mass Casualty Incidents / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009664:Norway; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010820:Physicians; D000070356:Pilots; D018635:Rescue Work / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014218:Triage / Q000379:methods*