Ground versus air

["Connie J. Larkin" <cjlarkin@citlink.net>]

I live and work in a small rural area.  We have a 24 hour emergency room
with approximately 4 hospital admissions per day that require transports
to a receiving facility (closest being 75 miles away).  We recently had
a helicopter service offer to do those transports for us at a fixed
rate.  I am requesting information of the safety of helicopter use
versus ground transport.

We have been using our nursing staff in the back of an ambulance to
transport those patients on roads that are paved, but often have animals
looses.  Examples:  One accident resulted with the nurse in the
emergency room with minor head trauma after the ambulance hit an
animal.  I personally have been in the ambulance when a local resident
was running his horses across the road and we hit and killed a colt.  A
woman's transport to the receiving facility was delayed because of a
vehicle accident and she delivered 10 minutes from the hospital.  Each
time these accidents have resulted in huge repair bills on the
ambulance.

I am only trying to get statistics on the safety of using a helicopter
for stable patient transport.  Our situation is unique at best.  We are
within the continental US, but live in a remote area.  Give me some feed
back please, because I am to meet with our chief of staff by this
Friday.
CJ
Connie J. Larkin
P.O. Box 2893
Kayenta, AZ 86033-2893
H (520-)697-8113
W (520)697-4000
FAX (520)697-3799 (please call before sending fax)
e-mail: cjlarkin@citlink.net