|
Helicopter |
Ground Ambulance |
| Personnel attending patient | |
| Two patient care providers | One patient care provider |
| Specialized equipment | |
| EKG | EKG |
| Pulse OX | Pulse OX |
| Capnography | Capnography |
| Defibrillation | Defibrillation |
| External Pacing (TCP) | External Pacing (TCP) |
| Transvenous pacer | |
| Infusion devices | |
| Blood Products | |
| Portable ventilator | |
| Monitoring of ICP, CVP, Art lines, and Swan-Ganz | |
| Chest tubes | |
| Fluid warmer | |
| Airway Control and Oxygenation | |
| Bag valve mask | Bag valve mask |
| Alternative airway | Alternative airway |
| Endotracheal intubation | Endotracheal intubation |
| Oxygen administration | Oxygen administration |
| Pulse oximeter monitoring | Pulse oximeter monitoring |
| Suctioning | Suctioning |
| Chest Decompression | Chest Decompression |
| Ventilator management / CPAP /BiPAP | Ventilator management/CPAP |
| Cricothyrotomy | Circothyrotomy |
| Rapid Sequence Intubation/Induction | |
| Venous Access | |
| Intravenous | Intravenous |
| Intraosseous Adult/Pediatric | Intraosseous Adult/Pediatric |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Glucometer | Glucometer |
| Splinting | Splinting |
| Spinal Immobilization | Spinal Immobilization |
| NG / Stomach lavage | |
| Ability to initiate blood products | |
| Conscious sedation | |
| Comfort and ride | |
| Very smooth and comfortable | Depends on road conditions and construction |
| Approximately 3 times faster than ground transport time. | Long duration tends to increase discomfort level of certain patients. |
| Availability | |
| Operate 24 hours, 365 days per year. Availability is dependent on aircraft availability, weather, crew and maintenance. | Generally available, but may depend on weather conditions, crew and maintenance. |
* Medications and equipment may vary between ground EMS providers.