Prehospital Helicopter Air Ambulances Part 2: Utilization Criteria and Training

The decision to request a helicopter air ambulance (HAA) is critical and complex. Emergency medical service (EMS) professionals must know how to appropriately and safely use HAA resources. We sought to describe important criteria for using HAA and the prevalence of HAA-related training among EMS professionals. Then, we identified characteristics associated with receiving training.

We sent an electronic questionnaire to all nationally certified EMS professionals. We performed descriptive analyses and multivariable logistic regression modeling.

We received 15,366 responses. Nearly all respondents reported that time to nearest trauma center and mechanism of injury were important in their last decision to use a HAA. About two thirds received HAA safety training (66.7%), whereas 69.0% received HAA utilization training within the past 24 months. Nearly three fourths (74.2%) received training in at least 1 HAA-related topic. Providers working at advanced life support levels, fire-based services, agencies providing 911 response, or in rural communities had greater odds of having received HAA training, whereas women, members of minority ethic/racial groups, and those with higher weekly call volumes had decreased odds.

Although their decision-making criteria appear to include the major factors recommended within current evidence-based guidelines, many nationally certified EMS professionals had not received recent HAA training.