Medical Helicopter Tour ⎮911/CCT⎮

[@carbonking53]

I've worked a number of helo medevacs when I lived in Colorado in RMNP, Indian Peaks, and other frontrange locations. These crews are top notch. We would often hike in for miles to locate, treat, and stabilize the patient. Then we would often have to carry the patient for miles or a hours in a litter to a suitable LZ. One of the pilots I knew was a former Army 160th SOAR Night Stalker pilot. That guy had mad skills and nerves of steel. It takes a hell of a lot of skill, trust, and coordination when the pilot is holding one skid on a rock while the ground rescue and flight crew work around the aircraft to load a patient in a litter. Props to those who work the ground and in the air.

[@TheAngrybird1000]

Worked with you guys working in the ER at Ivinson in Laramie, WY. Top notch, professional crews with each and every Lifeline Transfer, rotor or fixed wing. So glad for this channel and your high-quality content.

[@AddictedToJeepsCom]

Wow! My brain hurts just watching this video! Your level of expertise and your ability to clearly and concisely explain all your aircraft's features and your various roles is most impressive. Hopefully, I'll never need your services when we're wheeling out west, but I hope you're the team that arrives if anything serious ever happens. Great video as always! Keep up your amazing work!

[@justinhaase8825]

My brother has been a flight nurse with AM for 5 years now…and on the countdown to under a couple years as he works towards his NP. He started on the Astar and now on a diff base with a 130. I haven’t had to opportunity to tour his craft but since I live in a city with two level ones and he is regionally close, I’ve seen him fly over a few times. This really helped me understand what the work station is and how it all works.

[@roland.j.ruttledge]

I was looking forward to this one - it doesn't disappoint. Many thanks, as ever, for all your videos.

[@iamReddington]

The pilot and nurse are GORGEOUS!

[@PrepMedic]

I am gorgeous to.

[@iamReddington]

@@PrepMedic You hush and do your work, lol.

[@911dispatcher6]

@@iamReddingtonOHHHH SHHHH😂

[@FaTaLthe13th]

Just finished Paramedic school, this is my main goal but I need to get my experience. Thank you for taking us on a tour , I would love to just spend a minute in that beauty !

[@SimpleFitNurse]

Damn this is so bad ass!! I’ve always wanted to be a flight nurse… maybe one day!!

[@travtrav20]

This is awesome. I always wanted to be a flight nurse. I’ve flown with VCU Critical Care and Vidant Eastcare here in NC/VA or birds are a little different. Our patients are usually on the left side in the middle we load and unload from the very rare. Awesome video. Love the break down of what’s in the trauma bags and the reason for it… best air ambulance video I’ve seen ☺️

[@renegade7493]

Your a great roll model.

[@PrepMedic]

I appreciate that!

[@alexxd_1252]

Interesting, thanks for the Video! In Austria we have a lot of EMS helicopters, but we can´t use AS350s because of safety standards required by EASA. You have to have 2 engines and a CAT A certified airframe. Most of what we use are H135s and some MD902s, some Crtitical Care services use H145s which give a lot of room. The A-Star just seems so impractical and crammed.

[@PrepMedic]

You also don't have half the altitude that we have in Colorado. I would love to fly a bigger helicopter though, it just isn't as versatile as an AStart for us

[@itsweb1584]

@@PrepMedic Lots of European countries have very similar altitudes - France, Italy, Switzerland, Austria

[@Chris-pd7lg]

They run the A-Star because is cheap and it boosts their bottom line. The A-Star does have descent hot an high performance though and is not an ideal platform to work in at all.

[@speex_xcv]

@@PrepMedic "Half the altitude" ?? Some mountains in the Alps are definetly waaay higher than the Rockys.

[@PrepMedic]

That is true and it was an inaccurate statement. However, the helicopter used to get to Everest base camp is an AStar, same for the helicopter that has the world record for landing on top of Everest. Air Zermatt Carries an incredibly light fuel load in their larger helicopter and takes multiple trips to bring personnel to rescues. Before transporting the patient to a hospital they land and refuel which isn’t really an option for a lot of US operations

[@douglascloud4484]

God bless you guys for all you do, you are awesome thankyou all

[@huntur4234]

I have been watching your videos for years now and just realized that we met and have actually run calls together in the past few months. I am a volunteer firefighter up in one of the mountain communities to your west. We frequently work with lifeline 1 and your crew.

[@talscorner3696]

Mad respect to everybody! Piloting helicopters is insane

[@skywalkeruk84]

This was so awesome. It is amazing to watch your career development over the years. You are an inspiration. 🤙

[@brendanniernberg1189]

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain all of this to us! Love your vids, you never disappoint and always find a way to explain everything to an understandable level.

[@susanhester6081]

Just saying nice beard

[@TheRelkaw]

No good for a pandemic tho. Mask won't fit properly.

[@tommyd.3927]

paramedics always have good haircuts and sometimes nice beards

[@Jreddygo]

Cool vid and just want to say I appreciate what you folks do., thank you 🙏🏽

[@rmp5s]

I think being a med-transport pilot would be one of the coolest gigs EVER...flying around in a helicopter literally rescuing people? SIGN ME UP!! lol It's interesting how much weight (or lack thereof) is a focus. And, landing on Everest? Pretty awesome! Keep doin' big things!!

[@KD-vg2yn]

This channel is amazing. Thank you for the content.

[@Rod.Machado]

if an ambulance costs that much in the US imagine the costs of a helicopter medivac

[@andrewplumstead4756]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZjHdHtnjbp8oqc Here’s your answer, kinda

[@scottyweimuller6152]

In Germany where I'm from Ambulance and ambush helicopters are free...well sort of I mean its built into our social welfare taxes which everyone has to pay. I still don't know why in the US they don't do this other some really petty dumb reasons. I just feel bad for the patients that are stuck with crippling medical debt after being injured or sick.

[@carbonking53]

@@scottyweimuller6152 Having worked a number of mountain recues in the US I can tell you that maybe 10% were true accidents. The other 90% are DUMB people doing DUMB stuff. The citizens should not have to pay for others stupidity.

[@scottyweimuller6152]

@@carbonking53 that's why you're country is so messed up and everyone laughs at you. Please try again when you understand what you're talking about. Doubt you will though and just push some political agenda like %99 of you Americans do. 😉

[@scottyweimuller6152]

@@carbonking53 You're so full of shit.....I can tell youre not German one and also way to delete your last message which I can see in my notifs. Feildermaus 🤦‍♂️

[@sergioecheverria3114]

That was great Sam! thanks. all your videos are really Excellent!

[@chezbooga]

1. Well, that was overwhelming. So much stuff in that video! 2. Really happy to see your crew. I'd like to know more about your pilot (cursus, expérience, etc.) and the nurse (and how do you split the work between the two of you, etc). 3. I think that video one of the hell of a Ad for your employer! 4. Keep up the good work. Cheers from Canada.

[@rogertravis1838]

God Bless you guys! Thank you for what you do!

[@perniciousreaper4393]

People don't realize how much altitude affects rotary aircraft. There were a few times running CASEVAC and SAR in Afghanistan where our Pave Hawks were loaded down with multiple casualties on top of 12K-13K foot topography, and the rotors really couldn't grab enough air to get more than a couple feet of lift, and usually, once you applied any cyclic you were slamming back into the ground. So the pilots had to bunny hop the aircraft down the slope until we could get enough altitude, or until we reached a face, in which case we basically kind of fell off the mountain until we gained lift. Pucker factor through the roof.

[@insoYT]

I wasn't expecting to read about a bunny hopping helicopter. Let alone that it was a Pave Hawk 😂 Insane! I wonder which SOP this was from...

[@perniciousreaper4393]

@@insoYT Unwritten SOP called "Get us off this fucking mountain."

[@12345678927164]

Thanks for getting my kit into a professional set up.

[@DawidKellerman]

And a BIG Thank you to your employer!

[@Yerfdog1]

I really appreciate your videos! Thank you so much for taking the time to post these videos!

[@onepawatatime7925]

That OB kit is so cute 🤣

[@PfizerRN_NavyReserveCaptain]

Nice video. Nice program. H125 just brings back too many memories of Flight For Life.

[@derprovokateur3496]

Seems pretty tight compared to the H145 which is commonly used in germany. My dad loved the SAR UH-1D as medic because it was so spacious.

[@Quickstep80]

14:55 - Well, whatever the cuff pressure of an endotracheal tube in the _esophagus_ reads, I'd rather suggest to take it out and push it down the windpipe instead 🤣... - Seriously now, thanks for that video. Here, across the pond (Austria 🇦🇹), the A350 A-stars have been discontinued in HEMS pretty much two decades ago, since EU regulations require a twin-engine aircraft. There have been a few AS355 around though, but nowadays our operators use mostly EC135, and occasionally you would see an MD 902, an EC145, a Leonardo 109 or a Bell 429. The maximum altitude we need to get to is 12,500 ft, hence crew oxygen is not required, but flight medics need also to be trained mountain rescue specialists on top of their medical qualification. Again, thanks for that insight and always happy landings! 🚁

[@aarphi1984]

Great video! Can you briefly discuss the differences in roles between the flight medic and flight nurse? I'm sure there's a lot of overlap but any info would be awesome!

[@urlyriser3334]

We use Bell 206 helicopters for wilderness rescue because of dense forest and soft terrain/snow. Hard to work on a patient while in flight but it does the job. Would love to fly with an Astar setup like yours. Critical care transports here are all fixed wing. Thank you for the walk around video. I appreciate the content you put out.

[@willquinn5147]

Great video Sam...

[@jamescarroll6954]

HEMS humor: A service in Southwestern Wisconsin has “ECNALUMBA” inscribed on its nose. So drivers can tell what’s following them down the road, I suppose. In Minneapolis several years ago, a helicopter made a forced landing on the Hennepin County Medical Center parking lot. Somebody put a parking ticket n it. That was among the funniest news photos that hit the papers a day or so later.

[@PrepMedic]

Funny enough the ambulance backwards isn’t meant as humor. It was put on a lot of ambulances back in the day. Some do it to this day.

[@Pimpdown24]

I was told I was too big for a flight medic, I’m 6’5 and 260lbs so this is as close as I’ll get

[@TacMedTV]

Dude, don't let that stop you. I knew a guy that flew with University of Louisville STAT Flight, back in the day. He was around 6'4" and around 260. You just need to find a service that has an aircraft that can carry you. Back then UofL flew a BK117. Also, they would schedule him with a smaller RN.

[@Pimpdown24]

@@TacMedTV where I live my options are limited, we basically all have ec135s so I’d have to move somewhere without the mountains most likely.

[@TacMedTV]

@@Pimpdown24 that's always an option. And one thing I've learned in 30 years of working EMS...look for options. Always look to move forward and upward! Good luck in the future, my brother! Stay Safe!

[@Pimpdown24]

@@TacMedTV thanks man you too

[@PfizerRN_NavyReserveCaptain]

@@Pimpdown24 Wouldn't have an issue with us.

[@oliveradams1270]

Great video like how you were able to summarize the med bags cool items have a great day

[@doppelganger2531]

very good info i wish i woild've stayed in the field. I'm sure you get alot of questions but, mine is simple. After your "handoff" to ER how do you get all off this highspeed gear back to the aircraft?

[@joshstaley5825]

Awesome beard first off but also could you make a video about the o2 system on the helicopter. Wondering about how different it is from a ground ambulance. Do you guys have a main o2 tank or how does that work?

[@evacameron8670]

yes Sapphire we use at Sutter

[@evacameron8670]

use of impella at Advent hospital in Orlando, FL🎉

[@evacameron8670]

you are right not many use this pump

[@masterofnone11]

Dang your flight crew is cute as hell

[@shayamaddex996]

Kinda funny that Sam has come full circle. He's done 911, fire, LE/SWAT, SAR, and now he's back in IFT land, albeit at a much higher level.

[@PrepMedic]

I mean 50% of are calls are scene 911

[@ryancooper4475]

Damn you’re not kidding about it being an ER that can do 120. If weight wasn’t such a concern you could definitely use more than 3 people in the helicopter.

[@bodyno3158]

Bigger chopper means bigger footprints, probably not good for mountainous regions. And you shouldn't make your LZ with a Daisy Cutter in USA (or whatever your home country is), I mean, you could, but you really shouldn't.

[@BrysonBurgess2007]

Hey Sam, Thank You for the video, I had no idea the the helicopter had so much equipment inside! Also My Parents say Hi to your pilot, they went to High School with her. Anyway Thank You for all the educational videos, Keep it up!

[@tufiremn]

If y’all are only using straps for your Maquet IABP, then you need to check out the mounting plate for it. REACH should be able to get y’all one since other GMR services are already using them and have been for years.

[@PrepMedic]

Yeah, I really don’t know why we don’t have a mounting bracket for it. Do you guys fly with one for an impella as well

[@mackenziefrick5539]

Could you upload a 2021 updated “off duty EDC” video?

[@EBMisKing]

Great video!

[@PrepMedic]

Thanks!

[@donovancorcoran1392]

You mentioned getting a new laryngoscope- if you have any say in that decision, I can’t recommend enough the McGrath MAC. Much more compact and lightweight compared to the glidescope

[@bettysmith4527]

LOL, I just wrote that before I saw your comment, we love ours!

[@NormaPena-he5eg]

Very good job

[@bettysmith4527]

Probably too late, but I highly recommend the McGrath, it's much smaller and easier to carry!

[@wilson4180]

We’re only carrying fentanyl, versed, and ketamine. We use to carry diazepam, lorazepam, morphine on top of the former; but we didn’t use them as much so we got rid of them.

[@cypherf0x]

Why do you blur out Uchealth? Aircraft operated by REACH. In the FAA database you can look up the model of the helicopter in an area to see who flies them. N65RX and N68RX are the two operated in Colorado.

[@gerlandkent6377]

thank you for you're video

[@realplatinum]

I've really enjoyed these videos.

[@PrepMedic]

Glad you like them!

[@wizardgmb]

That helicopter has pretty tight quarters between crew, patient, gear and supplies. After you load the patient and crew onboard, where does the orange grab bag reside during the flight?

[@dracofire656]

Oh damn, I didnt know you were out of colorado, in the nicest way possible i hope i never have to meet you haha but god forbid if i do im glad im in good hands

[@highchamp1]

How many "Calls" do you get (per week) Is it a busy schedule? Crew / Aircraft rotation? Down time / Maintenance? Regularity Private aircraft are fairly regular. I see the local Police helicopters in the afternoons and nights. Ambulance helicopters (regular routes) and emergency landings in a nearby park sometimes. But I don't really know what the routine is. (lifestyle)

[@PrepMedic]

We are currently flying 30-50 flights a month and work 2 24 hour shifts a week. Most shifts you will see 1-3 patients.

[@stephengregory1655]

Damn... yall got a lot of stuff. Neat.

[@tennisbum3686]

Impressive video, how long is the training for the staff on board, and how many hours does each shift cover? Do you ever take a physician on board?

[@ivoryjohnson4662]

Lot different than the Hueys we had to load back in the day

[@timelordkryptoniansupersay6825]

Listening to this makes me fucking livid that in north carolina a flight paramedic makes about as much as a McDonalds manager.

[@codypainter3905]

I like your funny words medic man

[@richieewinns]

Whoa! Last time I saw one of your videos, you were clean shaven

[@surfinoperator]

I love the "no smoking" sticker🤣 Do you offer meals or snacks during the flights😜😜⁉️😜😜

[@Inputjay-j]

Ohhh so the 3 way valves would be for blood or medicines

[@DigitalAndInnovation]

That is more paralytics than most anesthesia drawers have on hand! Do you ever use Nimbex?

[@jhonb6950]

would you be able to use a bigger helicopter if you were able to lift them up in a basket?

[@carlosr.9469]

This is an amazing video brotha! I'm currently working in the ICU and ED because I want to do flight one day.

[@alfe1402]

Hello Sam. May I suggest a video? Critical Care Nurse vs Critical Care Paramedic vs Acute Care Nurse. Thanks.

[@DovidStern]

Neat stuff. I'm surprised at the Zoll though. Why the Zoll over the Lifepak?

[@PrepMedic]

Size and weight

[@RIEH54]

Really impressive. Tx

[@georg.pl_]

Do you carry „mobile“ O2 tanks on the helicopter which you can directly take to the patient? Or are you only able to administer O2 in/near the helo?

[@TommyG11814]

Amazing all you have to know. Great job all of you.

[@connorhill9047]

I heard that tone drop and my heart stopped... we might have similar tones🙃

[@StayPositive-sd8op]

What's the cost to take someone from one place to another that's about 15 miles

[@lilslicknick93]

I won’t go into the whole bag since I already have….. then proceeds to re cover what’s inside the entire bag anyway!😂👍

[@kizzjd9578]

Does the blood have to kept refridgerated and moving around?

[@AmigosEmplumados]

I loved it

[@cade8986]

The vid we’ve been waiting for

[@rhoonah5849]

Is there is a difference in what skills the flight nurse can do versus the medic? Our local Lifeflight also has a flight nurse and a flight medic on the bird and I'm curious what the difference is in what they are allowed to do otherwise why not 2 medics or 2 flight nurses on board? Thanks!

[@jackanderson6754]

Awesome video, thank you. I’m starting chromatic school soon, and look forward to hopefully joining you some day up in the skies

[@PrepMedic]

What is chromatic school? Did it autocorrect paramedic school?

[@jackanderson6754]

@@PrepMedic sorry I meant paramedic school

[@PrepMedic]

Makes more sense. Good luck!

[@longviewstud26]

Very cool.

[@mileszimmerman9104]

Very basic question: Where do you keep all of your trash during a flight?

[@PrepMedic]

Mainly the floor.

[@PBScourge]

Sorry to be that guy, but the AS350 is not called the Squirrel because it’s hard to handle in a hover. The original name for the helicopter was Écureuil…French for squirrel. Eurocopter changed the name to A-Star when it entered the American market because “squirrel” sounded too wimpy.

[@PrepMedic]

And why do you think it was called the Ecureuil to begin with?

[@PBScourge]

To be honest, I don’t know. I assumed it was called squirrel because it’s kind of cute. I doubt Eurocopter named it Écureuil to advertise some of the aircraft’s more difficult handling characteristics. “Check out this new Boeing. They named it Nail Biter because it’s really hard to land.” I’m not sure if the French language even uses the term “squirrelly” like we do in English…as in something unusually active and hard to handle. 😅 Anyway, really good video. I enjoyed watching this one and the other one that you made. I just don’t think Eurocopter (Airbus) named their own aircraft Squirrel because it’s difficult to hover. The marketing guys never would’ve let that fly….if you pardon expression. Again, keep up the good work. Thanks for doing what you’re doing.

[@douglasnorby8385]

Nice helicopter. CHP has an Astar. Didn't know you had that much for a small helicopter 🚁. we have a helipad at hospital

[@Blake_the_Drake]

How are you transporting an ECMO patient in such a space-limited airframe?

[@JohnnyWishbone85]

21:40 - Holy crap, PTSD triggered.

[@StayPositive-sd8op]

Hey that was pretty cool never watched the video like this and I was wondering what it's like in one of those. You're a lucky guy that has two cute girls with ya

[@ER_GUY]

Up here in Canada, transport by STARS (Shock, Trauma, Air, Rescue) in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba is....FREE!!! Provided by corporations and government sponsorship. Ground ambulance is EXPENSIVE .....so need a ride to the hospital for that fractured toe, call STARS....

[@lgwjrwhite588]

Very impressive thanks for shareing /NORTHERN ONT. CANADA

[@c.s.8941]

Our flight care service will actually come in to help in the ER and help with codes and rapids. Ive actually seen where physicians were taking a bit to long with intubating and our flight care medic was about done with there games and took over lol. What would you say the difference in skill and responsibility between rn and medic on the helicopter, how do you determine who needs to be responsible for what on a patient due to skill set?

[@PrepMedic]

There is no difference in responsibility between the nurse and medic. We just alternate being the primary attendant for the patient.

[@ltmundy1164]

Think like your pilot: Aviate. Navigate. Communicate. Honest assessment on team's individual strengths/weaknesses. Continued training against weakness (Everyone has room to improve their skillset.) Communications between medical team during preflight/outbound (Never involve flight crew with patient's medical status. Absolutely never. Flight's sole responsibility: Go/No go.) Division of duties prior to landing: Make the action plan. Put that plan into action. Flex. Work the problem. Avoid the problem working you. Avoid mistaking rank for competency: Patient's needs take priority. Always.

[@HATEY_HD]

my brain hurts after this....i just work on engines....

[@anggab96]

omg this is so interesting i have so many questions- is the pilot medically trained as well? and would a lucas device be onboard if not for the weight/bulk of it, or is it not feasible for other reasons? what if compressions are needed- do you have the space and in-flight stability for cpr? and did I miss a portable o2 tank or do you just rely on the helicopter’s o2 system?

[@PrepMedic]

Pilot is not medically trained and they are actually specifically forbidden to work in EMS outside their pilot job. We want them to be able to make clear safety decisions that are not swayed by the patients condition. Lucas is simply to big and heavy to carry routinely. If a sending agency has one on we can transport it but that’s it. Left seat can perform CPR but it is difficult and we do our best not to transport cardiac arrests. We have a portable tank I forgot to show under the right seat.

[@taylorclay2122]

What happens when you have an on patient that is needing fetal monitoring and a vent??

[@СергейЩербинин-э8в]

I'm a pilot of Mi 171 and Kamov 32, but i want to fly this little badass chopper and save people! Is there any way to come from Russia and get this job?

[@mekhianderson5159]

Could you maybe do a video on what are the differences between you and the flight nurse And maybe some of the different scopes of practice and things that you guys do

[@tannertoejam2196]

Flight medics and nurses are trained to the same set of skills and both can perform the same procedures. For example the nurses are trained to intubate and the medics are trained to run balloon pumps and such. Due to the environment they work in they have to be able to do each other’s jobs as needed

[@medtec6747]

I used to want to be a flight medic the army made we want to do it on the civilian side that's until the first year of civilian ems 3 friends of mine got killed in 3 separate crashes each one of them died during or after flights of perfectly stable patients that could have been interfacility transfered by ground. That really soured it for me

[@PrepMedic]

I am sorry to hear that. Back around 2008 HEMS was one of the most dangerous industries in the US. Since that time HEMS had undergone a huge overhaul in its equipment and safety culture. It is still dangerous, but it is a lot safer nowadays

[@medtec6747]

no youre right it has gotten better i just hate seeing high risk transport used as an interfacility cash cow now and not what its best at which is getting trauma to the hospital in that golden hour from the middle of nowhere. for a while there here in OK we had over 8 birds in less than 100 square miles and they were all racing for the IFT's

[@bettysmith4527]

Sadly I have heard (while dropping off 911 patients) hospital ED staff say "just call _______ (insert local HEMS name)" because they don't want to wait 45 minutes for a ground medic truck to arrive, even though the patient is not emergent. It's a bit frustrating to hear that they are tying up a HEMS unit, when someone else may need it more, and on top of that costing the patient's thousands more in bills because of convenience. HEMS units should be able to refuse, although I would assume they won't because of the liability and PR.

[@rescueaviationfilms1019]

My local medflight agency is Survival Flight and they operate red and black Bell 407s here in north Arkansas. They are bad*ss birds.

[@ethanrifkind4806]

This was great! what radio are you using? it's so much slimmer than the standard apx.