Dec 1, 2008 6:13 pm US/Eastern
Some Md. Lawmakers Lend Support To Medevac System
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
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Months after a deadly Medevac accident killed several people, emergency workers still have more questions than answers.
Months after a deadly Medevac accident killed several people, emergency workers still have more questions than answers.
One of those questions is should the state cut back on the use of Medevacs.
Mike Hellgren explains some Maryland lawmakers want the choppers to keep flying.
Back in September, it was Maryland's deadliest Medevac crash. It killed four people on board and seriously wounded another patient.
But days after an expert panel called the system overused and recommended fewer flights, some state lawmakers are supporting the system calling it a life-saver.
"Any time you're in this kind of fiscal crisis, you'll see certain folks try to cut back and trim different services," said Delegate Barry Glassman.
"How many times is the helicopter used and we have no problem whatsoever?" asked Del. James Malone. "Do I think the system has been unfairly attacked? I do. My favorite saying is it's easier to be critical than it is to be correct."
Malone is a member of the Maryland Legislative Fire, Rescue and EMS Caucus. He says there is already a system in place to determine which flights are necessary and when ground transportation is better.
"I don't know, like the protocol for who should be lifted in a helicopter or not, but the person in the ambulance told me that they were going to take me in a helicopter," said Jordan Wells, helicopter crash survivor.
The new rule of getting approval from doctors before flying is a direct result of the Medevac accident.
"We are not flying people to Shock Trauma because they broke their toe. We are flying people out if somebody falls 50 feet out of a tree. You don't know what's going on inside their body," said Malone.
In addition to cutting back on flights, the panel also recommends a switching of strict commercial aviation standards and adding a second paramedic on board.
It's a move Malone says may not work in every part of Maryland.
"There are certain areas in the county and the city where if need be, we can get that person to the hospital faster than the helicopter. But there are places all around the state of Maryland that are not as fortunate to have Shock Trauma as close as it is," said Malone.
On average, Maryland's Medevacs make about 4,000 flights a year.
The chopper was flying in bad weather when it crashed and a federal report says the air traffic controller was not trained to handle the type of landing the pilot requested. The official cause remains under investigation.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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