We follow the most stringent air safety standards and procedures. Medical team:
The flight team may include registered nurses, nurse practitioners, paramedics, respiratory therapists, or physicians with expertise in trauma, emergency care, neurology, pediatrics, neonatal care, maternal or other specialties, depending on the patient's needs. At least two medical staff people are on board. They are certified and trained in Rotor & Fixed-wing flight safety, aeromedical physiology, disaster triage, extrication, scene management, stress management, hazmat, land survival, water survival and under water aircraft escape training. In addition, required certifications are as follows:
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Trauma Nurse Core Curriculum (TNCC)
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Emergency Nurse Pediatric Course (ENPC)
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
• Advanced Burn Life Support (ABLS)
• Emergency Medical Technician - Basic (EMT)
• Advanced Procedures Skills Lab (similar to ATLS) Medical director:
LifeGuard Alaska's medical director is responsible for the overall quality of the program. The director is a Providence Medical Center physician trained in emergency medicine and aeromedical transport. A medical director's expertise and involvement is vital because providing medical care in an aircraft is complicated and presents different challenges than providing care in a hospital. LifeGuard has 1 overall Medical Director with 3 sub-specialty medical directors that include pediatrics, neonatology and neuorology. 27 trained physicians provide medical control for the LifeGuard Alaska Program. Fixed-wing Pilots:
Two pilots are required for every flight. The pilot-in-command (Captain) has a minimum of 5,000 hours of flying time with at least 3,000 in a multiengine aircraft. LifeGuard also requires a minimum of six months experience flying in Alaska. The requirements for the First-Officer are similar but less stringent. Rotary-Wing Pilots:
The pilot-in-command (PIC) has a minimum of 2,500 hours of flying time with at least 2,000 PIC. LifeGuard also requires a minimum of one year experience flying in Alaska. All Helicopter pilots are trained and maintain currency in Instrument Flight Rules. LifeGuard pilots, most with military training, also have special training in medical transport. Twice a year, they are required to complete check rides with a certified instructor to review emergency procedures. |
