Airflow Characteristics in Aeromedical Aircraft: Considerations During COVID-19

Wit, Anthony John de; Coates, Ben; Cheesman, Michael John; Hanlon, Gregory Richard; House, Thomas Giles; Fisk, Benjamin

doi:10.1016/j.amj.2020.10.005

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 24 publications

(21 reference statements)

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“…During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, research on viral transmission pathways and risk reduction is particularly important, also with respect to medical air rescue crews, which has been of interest to such authors as de Wit (2021), Braude et al (2021), Meng et al (2021), Bredmose et al (2020), Albrecht et al (2020), or Spoelder et al (2021) [ 33 , 52 , 54 – 57 ]. A study by Berry et al (2021), analyzing HEMS transportation of COVID-19 patients in the USA during the first wave of the pandemic, demonstrated that the majority of organizations participating in the survey decided to transport patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experience of the Polish Medical Air Rescue Service During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic and Measures Taken to Protect Patients, Medical Staff, and Air Crew from SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Rzońca

Tomaka²,

Rzońca

et al. 2022

Med Sci Monit

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Background The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) and the sudden inflow of patients with severe COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) symptoms increased demand for hospital and pre-hospital care, the latter being provided by emergency medical teams. The Polish Medical Air Rescue Services include the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) and the airplane-based Emergency Medical Service (EMS). This study aimed to present the experience of the Polish Medical Air Rescue Service during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and measures taken to protect patients, medical staff, and air crew from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Material/Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of missions completed by the Polish Medical Air Rescue crews with respect to confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases. We analyzed data from the medical records of the Polish Medical Air Rescue Service, which included flights to accidents and emergencies, and air patient transport missions, where medical assistance was provided to patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in the first year of the pandemic in Poland. Results Among the COVID-19 patients, the most common comorbidity was acute respiratory failure (41.58%). Emergency missions more often concerned older patients with sudden cardiac arrest, dyspnea, upper respiratory tract infection, stroke, and acute coronary syndromes. Conclusions During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland, the Polish Medical Air Rescue Service implemented procedures to protect patients, medical staff, and air crew from SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study highlights the importance of using single-patient isolation units for patient transport between hospitals and for emergency hospital admissions when the SARS-CoV-2 status of the patients were unknown.

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