An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir October 2017 www.dfmagazine.ie 12 | T he Air Corps has a proud tradition of providing for the people of Ireland. no 3 Operations Wing in particular has introduced a number of significant capabilities to the state, including the first inter-hospital air ambulance ser- vice, search and rescue, and night vision operations. In 2012 the unit embarked on its next legacy project, the Emergency Aeromedical Service (EAS). The EAS is a joint project between the Air Corps and the National Ambulance Ser- vice (NAS), designed to deliver advanced medical care to remote locations and rapid transport for seriously ill or injured patients to the most appropriate hospital, and is the first such service in the state. The service combines the speed of the AW139 helicopter, cruising at almost 300 kph, with the high level of care provided by a NAS advanced paramedic. The EAS began as a pilot project in 2012 to ascertain the need for such a service in Ireland. The project has since become a permanent service and its success has hinged on the collaboration of multiple bodies, including the Defence Forces, Department of Defence, Department of Health, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the NAS. Behind the helicopter and four-person crew are a myriad of supporting func- tions required to ensure the aircraft can respond. The departments of Defence and Health generate the policies govern- ing the operation of the service, while the Air Corps provides the technical, logistical and operational support needed to keep a state-of-the-art aircraft fit to respond at a moment's notice and 2 Bde provides the life support for the EAS in Custume Bks in the geographical centre of Ireland. The NAS, through its Aeromedical Dispatch Service (AMDS) in Tallaght, manages the asset in adherence to protocols, which are designed to ensure the aircraft responds to patients that would benefit most from the service, and they provide the vital flight-following function ensuring safety for the crew. Within the military, and in aviation, routine is very important and every day on the EAS begins in the same way, with a morning brief. The aircraft and medical equipment is thoroughly examined and the crew checks-in with the AMDS control- ler. Once this routine is finished, no two days are the same. The average duration of an EAS task is two hours and the service responds to an average of two calls per day, although it has responded to six tasks in a single day, covering hundreds of kilometres. The crew are at a constant state of readiness, to respond at a mo- ment's notice. When the phone rings, the crew initially receives details limited to the location of the patient, to isolate the crew's decision from any emotional interference. Once the aircraft commander decides to ac- cept the mission, depending on multiple factors, each of the crew members goes about their individual tasks; starting the aircraft, planning the route, identifying the landing site. This normally takes less than seven minutes. The speed of the AW139 allows the EAS to reach and make a positive impact on every community in the country and the aircraft's range allows the crew to respond reConneCting the Chain of SurViVal Five years of the Emergency Aeromedical Service (EAS) By CAPT SEán MCCARThy, AIR CORPS PRESS OFFICE

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