Kensington High Street Casevac.
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Kensington High Street Casevac.
Something you don't see every day. HERE.
I suspect this has already been posted - but I can't see it.
I suspect this has already been posted - but I can't see it.
That piece of footage is very interesting given the recent events in Bettystown. Are the injuries of anyone, no matter how serious, worth risking the safety of a helicopter, crew and bystanders in such a manner? Could a regular ambulance not have completed this job with a far higher degree of safety? The cyclist must have been very seriously injured. A very skillful piece of flying nonetheless.
500 Fan.
500 Fan.
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air ambulance
A regular ambulance? Have you tried driving round Kensington recently? You can barely move. I have stood and watched ambulances at a standstill largely due to the fact the traffic is so chocca cars cannot move in any direction to let them through. Chances are a motorcycle paramedic arrived on the scene first and called the air ambulance (just a guess) based on his/her assessment of the casualty. If I was that injured cyclist I would be truly grateful to those guys in that Virgin machine. I have to say though, the crew were very very lucky in one respect, the traffic wardens in Kensington and Chelsea normally clamp any vehicle not parked properly within seconds of the driver getting out. And they'll probably get a congestion charge bill through the post within three days.
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Wow incredible allright, I agree with Seang, regular ambulance would be a nightmare, I live very close to the spot where the heli landed but away on hols at the moment so missed all the excitement as usual
At first look, it does look like overkill to use a heli in the circumstances initially described, but the combination of atrocious traffic and serious injury explains that medevac. Thanks for explaining it.
500 Fan.
500 Fan.
Great work guys !!
Helicopter pilots all over the world operate into much smaller LSs than that on a daily basis - it only looks spectacular because the LS is made up of shops and lamp stands instead of trees and rocks.
I'm not saying he didn't do a good job, just trying to inject a sense of perspective. The job was clearly done safely and professionally but on a sliding scale of difficulty was probably not that high.
I'm not saying he didn't do a good job, just trying to inject a sense of perspective. The job was clearly done safely and professionally but on a sliding scale of difficulty was probably not that high.
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Yes,
but the approach into a landing site like that, all the time keeping an eye out for FOD both natural and caused by the aircraft, the way the aircraft handles close to buildings causing recirculating air, the pressure of hundreds of people watching and the pressure of the patients life relying on you doing your job correctly, i think he did a sterling job.
Maybe its done all over the world every day, but for 95percent of us it looks awesome. we may have to deal with a tight spot, or a lot of people looking but all of these things put together makes me bow my head in respect to this pilot.
proper crew coordination and coordination with the emergency services on the ground seems to be the key to safely operating these kind of flights.
I can only hope some day to work with individuals of this caliber,
Hats Off.
but the approach into a landing site like that, all the time keeping an eye out for FOD both natural and caused by the aircraft, the way the aircraft handles close to buildings causing recirculating air, the pressure of hundreds of people watching and the pressure of the patients life relying on you doing your job correctly, i think he did a sterling job.
Maybe its done all over the world every day, but for 95percent of us it looks awesome. we may have to deal with a tight spot, or a lot of people looking but all of these things put together makes me bow my head in respect to this pilot.
proper crew coordination and coordination with the emergency services on the ground seems to be the key to safely operating these kind of flights.
I can only hope some day to work with individuals of this caliber,
Hats Off.
I also think, this landing wasnt really spectacular for most of the HEMS pilots, especially when they are doing their work in or near big cities. Then its part of the daily business.
skadi
skadi
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Once the traffic has been moved out of the way Kensington High Street makes a decent heli-pad. In any case I'd expect these guys to have several surveyed 'possibilities' in the middle of London. Stick up an extra lamp post without their say so - and you'll be dead meat. I expect .......... 
I think Old Beefer meant 'Run of the Mil stuff'.
I think Old Beefer meant 'Run of the Mil stuff'.
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Does anyone know what the medical parameters are for tasking a trip like this ?
I'm thinking it must be something like, spinal injuries must be at a specialist centre within 1hr to make a difference. Or maybe it's the other way round and that having a specialist on site within say 30min will make a significant difference.
There are great hospitals with full A&E eg. Chelsea and Wesminster within 2km of the accident, so it's clearly not as simple as getting them to the nearest hospital.
I'm thinking it must be something like, spinal injuries must be at a specialist centre within 1hr to make a difference. Or maybe it's the other way round and that having a specialist on site within say 30min will make a significant difference.
There are great hospitals with full A&E eg. Chelsea and Wesminster within 2km of the accident, so it's clearly not as simple as getting them to the nearest hospital.
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HEMS has 3 types of dispatch.
1. Immediate. A certain limited list which if the paramedic in ambulance control sees, will task the aircraft immediately.
2. Interrogation. The paramedic has the ability to listen-in to any 999 call as it happens from one of the call-takers. He/she can then ask extra questions about the casualty's condition. Based on those questions then task the a/c.
3 Crew request. Any member of the ambulance service (in London or the surrounding counties) can request the helicopter and it will be tasked as if an immediate dispatch. Counties such as Hertfordshire Kent & Surrey regularly request the aircraft for accidents involving Neuro injuries. They are aware that a neuro patient will end up in London anyway as there are no neuro-surgical facilities in these counties. These are the cases where time really is important.
With respect to the hospitals used, it depends on the patients injuries and the type of treatment required. The Doctors brief is that a patient should go to the nearest, most appropriate, hospital for their injuries. Generally if a suitable hospital is within 20 minutes ambulance drive (blue lights) they should go by road. (Bear in mind that the average speed in London is only about 12mph even on blue lights!). Otherwise go by air - usually to the Royal London. The decision is entirely up to the Doctor on the helicopter based on their assessment of the patients injuries.
There are only two hospitals in London with multi-trauma facilities - The Royal London (where the aircraft is based) and Kings College Hospital. However these hospitals do not have specialist burns units so a burns patient could end up anywhere a specialist burns bed is available.
902jon
1. Immediate. A certain limited list which if the paramedic in ambulance control sees, will task the aircraft immediately.
2. Interrogation. The paramedic has the ability to listen-in to any 999 call as it happens from one of the call-takers. He/she can then ask extra questions about the casualty's condition. Based on those questions then task the a/c.
3 Crew request. Any member of the ambulance service (in London or the surrounding counties) can request the helicopter and it will be tasked as if an immediate dispatch. Counties such as Hertfordshire Kent & Surrey regularly request the aircraft for accidents involving Neuro injuries. They are aware that a neuro patient will end up in London anyway as there are no neuro-surgical facilities in these counties. These are the cases where time really is important.
With respect to the hospitals used, it depends on the patients injuries and the type of treatment required. The Doctors brief is that a patient should go to the nearest, most appropriate, hospital for their injuries. Generally if a suitable hospital is within 20 minutes ambulance drive (blue lights) they should go by road. (Bear in mind that the average speed in London is only about 12mph even on blue lights!). Otherwise go by air - usually to the Royal London. The decision is entirely up to the Doctor on the helicopter based on their assessment of the patients injuries.
There are only two hospitals in London with multi-trauma facilities - The Royal London (where the aircraft is based) and Kings College Hospital. However these hospitals do not have specialist burns units so a burns patient could end up anywhere a specialist burns bed is available.
902jon