Critical care in the air

Our guest columnist is Parker Brigance, DNP, RN, CEN, director of Emergency Services for Baptist Health.

When a medical emergency happens, time is critical.

Whether it's a severe injury, stroke, heart attack or seriously ill child, getting the right care quickly can make all the difference. That’s why critical care transport is so crucial and sometimes, life-saving treatment begins off the ground.

At Baptist Health and Wolfson Children’s Hospital, our sky-high lifeline comes in the form of a three-helicopter fleet. Strategically located within our community are two Life Flight helicopters and a designated Kids Kare helicopter.

Bringing the hospital to the patient

For many communities, especially those in rural areas or locations farther from specialized hospitals, air transport serves as a vital link in the region's emergency care system.

Specially trained crews on each aircraft begin providing critical care the moment they arrive, making the most of those crucial first minutes. The teams on both Life Flight and Kids Kare work closely with local emergency medical services agencies, fire rescue departments, hospitals and emergency physicians throughout the region, creating a seamless network focused on improving patient outcomes.

Critical care provided in the helicopters includes:

• Advanced life support equipment like ventilators, defibrillators and patient monitors
• Oxygen and advanced airway support
• Blood products for transfusion
• Specialized cardiac support for patients requiring mechanical circulatory assistance
• Isolette for newborns to regulate body temperature (Kids Kare)

Sky-high healing

The goal of our helicopter transport is to deliver patients to expert continuing care at our Baptist Health hospitals.

Every flight represents a patient, a family and a community counting on us. Life Flight and Kids Kare are essential parts of our health care system, helping ensure advanced care is never farther away than it needs to be.

Because time is of the essence in a medical emergency, it’s important to know where your closest Emergency Room is, before you need it. View Baptist Health and Wolfson Children’s Hospital ER locations.