Nonprofit Air Ambulance

Pre-Hospital Guidelines

Most people who need emergency medical care can be appropriately transported by ground ambulance. However, some patients need the critical care and speed that HALO-Flight provides. Below are some HALO-Flight critical care usage guidelines.

Note
This list is not all inclusive and should not replace your decision to transport based on medical judgment.

When:

  • Mutual aid for BLS and ALS units requiring a Critical Care RN / Paramedic MICU team
  • Blood or plasma is needed
  • A decreased transport time is necessary to optimize patient outcome
  • The patient’s condition requires critical care life support (monitoring, personnel, medications or specific equipment) not otherwise available
  • Patient requires rapid access to a definitive care facility not available within the local area
  • The potential for delays in transport may be associated with worsened patient outcome
  • The use of your local ambulance would leave the local area without adequate EMS coverage for an extended period of time
  • The local resources are overwhelmed with the number of patients (MCI)


Trauma:


  • Multiple system injury
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Paralysis
  • Chest wall injury with known or possible development of respiratory/cardiac issues
  • Patients requiring advanced airway treatment
  • Unstable pelvis or long bone fractures
  • Fractures/dislocations/injuries to extremities with the loss of distal pulses
  • Pre-hospital Blood Transfusions


  • Death of occupant in same car
  • Prolonged extrication with known or unknown injuries
  • Altered mental status secondary to trauma related incident
  • Falls > 20 feet or with significant injury
  • Near-drownings
  • Shootings/Stabbings to the head, neck, chest, thorax or pelvis




Medical:


  • Respiratory distress
  • Altered Mental status
  • Mechanical ventilation required
  • Suspected Sepsis
  • Cardiogenic shock
  • Cardiac arrhythmias
  • STEMI
  • Stroke


  • Overdose with an altered level of consciousness
  • Uncontrolled seizure activity
  • Suspected DKA or other diabetic emergencies
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Environmental emergencies (hypothermia, hyperthermia)



Inter-Facility Guidelines


Bypass Protocols


Active Launch Request

Fundraising Events

Fundraising Events

Patients Stories

Patients Stories