@article{ref1,
title="A 10-year analysis of 214 HEMS backcountry hoist rescues",
journal="Air Medical Journal",
year="2013",
author="Thomas, Frank and Carpenter, Judi",
volume="32",
number="2",
pages="98-101",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Few published studies on civilian helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) hoist programs exist. This study provides a demographic analysis of hoist rescue operations performed by the only FAA Part 135 hoist-approved civilian HEMS operator in the United States. METHODS: All persons hoisted between May 29, 2001, and May 28, 2011, were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Over a 10-year period, 212 of 214 victims were hoisted. The most common indications were fall injuries (38%) and being stranded (21%). Victim demographics showed an average age of 35 ± 17years, predominantly male (79%), often associated with trauma (66%), with a majority (68%) of all victims requiring subsequent transport to a hospital by ground ambulance (24%) or flown by Life Flight (44%). Hoists occurred most often in the afternoon (14:07 ± 3:47 hours), during the weekend (53%), in the months of May-September (71%), at an altitude of 7,488 ± 1487 feet, with the seat harness (39%) being the most common mode of victim extraction. Hoist insertion of search and rescue (SAR) personnel occurred infrequently (5%). CONCLUSION: The results from this demographic study on hoist operations can provide important demographic information for HEMS contemplating backcountry hoist operations and programs that interface with SAR agencies.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1067-991X",
doi="10.1016/j.amj.2012.10.012",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amj.2012.10.012"
}