A flight medic is a member of an aerial medical evacuation, or medevac, crew who provides emergency medical care. The medic’s job is to stabilize and immobilize a trauma patient before he or she is flown to a medical facility. He may also assist the pilot and is responsible for the patient’s health during the flight. The flight medic will brief the receiving doctors and nurses on the patient’s condition once the medevac helicopter arrives at its destination.
Typically, medical evacuation flights are used to transport trauma victims to a location where they can receive proper medical care. These flights are typically carried out helicopters, but fixed-wing planes may also be used. A patient may be transported directly to a hospital from the scene of an accident. Medevac flights are also sometimes used to transport patients from one hospital to another. When the receiving hospital is better equipped to help a patient, this is what happens.
It is the responsibility of the flight medic to stabilize the patient prior to the flight. If the patient is bleeding profusely, for example, the medic must first try to stop the bleeding. He also has to get the patient ready for the flight. This usually entails being strapped to a stretcher.
The flight medic must then load the patient into the helicopter once she is stable and secure. The undersides of some helicopters are fitted with special doors that make loading and unloading patients much easier. Patients are also securely strapped into the helicopters so that they are not jostled during the flight.
The flight medic and flight nurse must continue emergency medical treatment if necessary during the flight. For example, medications may be given or a portable defibrillator may be used to restart the patient’s heart. During a medevac flight, oxygen may also be administered. During a flight, flight medics will usually calm and reassure a patient.
A flight medic may be required to assist the pilots with the flight in addition to caring for his patient. He might be required to assist with pre-flight inspections, for example. He may also assist with navigation keeping an eye out for landmarks during the flight.
Doctors and nurses are usually ready and waiting for the incoming flight, which will usually land on a rooftop, if the patient is transported to a hospital. The flight medic must then unload the patient once the helicopter has arrived at its destination. The patient is then handed over to the hospital staff who are waiting for him. Any medical treatments the patient received while in his care, both before and during the flight, will be reported to the crew a flight medic. Any paperwork, such as medical records, must be given to the hospital staff who are waiting.