Introducing a New EMS Interior in a New Helicopter Jan-Marc van Dam, Director of Completions
Change is the only constant in life The most dangerous phrase in the language is We've always done it this way." Rear Admiral Grace Hopper It is not advisable to hang on to that old rule of thumb that is has been used successfully in the past so it is good enough now. SAE AIR825/13 Page: 2
The mission: Cornwall..bringing vital emergency medical treatment in minutes to patients across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. LAA The Charity that delivers an advanced trauma team to critically injured people in London. MAGPAS We bring lifesaving care to patients in serious medical emergencies 24/7 across the East of England and beyond. Flying helicopters is not the objective. Fulfilling the requirements of delivering a clinical service is key. Page: 3
One Size Fits All?? 13 different NHS Ambulance Trusts in the UK. 19 Air Ambulance Charities resulting in variations in: Operating Model Clinical Governance Medical Crew Composition Medical Devices Due to the regional model there is a strong bond between the air ambulance service and the local community. Page: 4
EMS Interior Requirements First and foremost the EMS interior must support the medical team in providing first class clinical care in line with their operating procedures. Ergonomics; unobstructed access to device and vital controls. Ergonomics; allow rapid removal / refit of medical equipment. Flexibility; allow easy reconfiguration of cabin. Future-proof; update of medical equipment w/o major redesign. Hygiene; easy to clean / disinfect Airworthy; meet CS-27/CS-29 airworthiness specifications. H&S; fittings must not pose a hazard to crew or patient. H&S; minimize manual handling. Page: 5
Across out fleet we support: Advances in medical technology 3 different oxygen cylinders 3 different ventilators 3 different vital signs monitors/defibrillators 2 different suction devices 4 different syringe pump drivers Etc, etc. Page: 6
New Helicopter New Opportunities Wide Cabin 360⁰ Patient Access Wide doors More Payload More Electrical Power APU Mode Large Baggage Bay Parkinson s Law: A paramedic will fill the space available Page: 7
From roadside to cabin CREW CREW P A T I E N T KIT Page: 8
Changing regulatory environment The regulatory environment is continuously changing EASA CS-29 (Amendment 4) provides further AMC supplementing FAA MG 6 where EASA deem the FAA AC being at variance with the EASA s interpretation or regulatory system: o Demonstration that the stretcher patient can be evacuated. CRI F-01, Oxygen fire hazard in rotorcraft with Emergency Medical Service cabin configuration: o Transient Pressure Level test is mandatory, when insufficient data on pressure regulator failure modes is available. Page: 9
Modular Interior Concept Previous EMS interiors, notably for Cornwall Air Ambulance, showed that customisation, future-proofing and affordability are not mutually exclusive. The size of the AW169 cabin allows a variety on interior configurations. Interior can be customised to operator s wishes. There are ample hard points in the floor, ceiling, over the fuel tank and on the back wall to attach equipment racks. Use of standard aircraft seat track at nominal 10 spacing allows the use of equipment holders and brackets developed for other aircraft to be used on AW169. Page: 10
Resolving Conflicting Requirements The clinical requirements are paramount. Designers need to have a good understanding of how the medical interior will be used. We need to understand the reason behind the requirement. Direct, clear and open communication between the stakeholders, especially clinical practitioners, design engineers and regulatory authorities. Design-by-committee seldom works. Single Point of Contact is essential. Keep playing with Lego and use a modular approach. Page: 11
Different cabins, same structure Page: 12
Different cabins, same structure Page: 13
Further information Jan-Marc van Dam Tel: +44 (0)1452 857999 E-mail: jvandam@specialist-aviation.com Page: 14