Testing the Emergency Evacuation Hyperbaric Stretcher for Fit in Small Military and Civilian Helicopters.

Abstract

Introduction: Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy is essential for the treatment of diving injuries in the field, but typically requires larger recompression chambers with limited porta-bility. The Emergency evacuation hyperbaric stretcher (EEHS) offers a portable solution for prehospital HBO2, particularly in remote or austere environments. However, it's compatibility with smaller evacuation aircraft remains uncertain.

Methods: A commercially available EEHS (Hyperlite 1) was tested for fit and operational computability in both a U.S. Coast Guard Air-bus MH-65 "Dolphin" and an Airbus H145 helicopter with a configuration typical of civilian air ambulances.

Results: The EEHS could not be fully accommodated in the MH-65 with-out the side doors remaining open and obstructing the rescue swimmer's seat. These limitations may pose challenges to the safe transport of an EEHS during standard operational scenar-ios, necessitating additional logistical support and introducing potential safety risks. The EEHS did fit within the H145, op-timally without a large transport cot in place. In both cases, the required tie-down straps were unavailable.

Conclusion: Un anticipated airframe limitations may impede the timely evacuation of a diving casualty to advanced care. These find-ings highlight the importance of planning for the use of the EEHS including careful consideration of the potential aircraft platforms available. Further research is recommended to assess newer EEHS models and to improve aircrew and clinician fa-miliarity with EEHS transportation requirements.