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Highlands Today

When Minutes Count

Bill Rettew Jr./Highlands Today

From left: Ted Edgar, pilot; Anthony Fuentes, flight nurse; and Bob Starr, flight paradmedic are instantly prepared for the 25 to 30-minute trip by helicopter to Tampa General Hospital with critically ill patients from an injury site.

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By Bill Rettew Jr. | Highlands Today

Published: January 5, 2008

SEBRING — When it's a matter of life and death, seconds make the difference.

In case of a life-threatening emergency, if a patient can reach a level one trauma center within 60 minutes (the golden hour), the odds of survival are much better, said Steve Coltharp, interim paramedic director of Highlands County Emergency Medical Services.

Highlands County patients have a good chance of reaching Tampa General Hospital and some other trauma centers within that golden hour when transported by helicopter, according to Coltharp.

With an average response time of six minutes, EMS crews can request a helicopter for transportation, which usually responds within 15 to 20 minutes, and with good weather conditions, land at the level one trauma center at Tampa General following a flight of 25 to 30 minutes.

Coltharp said patients are flown based upon the severity of injury. The interim director said a bumpy ambulance ride to Tampa General lasts about 90 minutes.

A penetrating trauma to the head or chest, a comatose patient, possible head or brain trauma or even an 85-year-old patient with a pair of broken legs might be considered life-threatening by EMS responders, and require a flight.

More and more cardiac and brain-injured patients are flying. In case of brain injury or cardiac arrest, damage often becomes more severe as the time prior to treatment increases.

Vitals signs, including pulse rates, respiratory rates and blood pressure are checked by EMS personnel to determine injuries not initially visible.

"In case of a severe head-injured person with a pulse rate of 40, they're possibly bleeding inside from a vital organ," said Coltharp. "You need a vascular surgeon to open them up immediately, but you can't get that done in an hour at a local hospital."

A level one center in Florida is staffed around the clock with orthopedic, vascular and neurosurgeons, plus specialized support staff.

AeroMed helicopters, with a team of pilots and highly trained medical personnel serve Highlands, Charlotte, Glades, Okeechobee, Hardee and Desoto counties from a local base at the Sebring Regional Airport.

John Scott is AeroMed director and said that the fee to lift off is $10,000 and the average 62-mile trip to Tampa runs a patient an additional $100 per mile.

During 2007, 54 helicopters landed at the injury scene and flew patients to trauma centers.

Scott works with staff of 12, which includes four pilots.

"It's something that we do almost every day and is a part of the job," said Scott. "Everybody thinks it's relatively exciting, and it is. But we're focused and we get on with it."

Hospital care in a rural area has both advantages and disadvantages.

"You're trading off lifestyle of a rural area for better hospitals," said Coltharp, "but there aren't as many car wrecks or the pressure of city life, either. And we can reach Tampa within that golden hour."

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