A Day In the Life: Critical Care Flight Paramedic

A day in the life of a critical care flight paramedic! Come along for a full 24 hour shift working on a medevac helicopter in the Rocky Mountains and see what the job entails from start to finish.
*While editing might make it appear differently, no filming is performed while patient is onboard the aircraft*

00:00 Intro
00:38 Morning Routine
02:15 Commute
03:24 Shift Start
04:08 Helicopter Morning Check
05:45 Computer Work
06:30 Scene Flight (Cancelled)
08:21 Interfacility Transfer 1
10:28 Interfacility Transfer 2
11:30 Bed Time
11:45 Morning/Shift Change

Other PrepMedic HEMS Videos.....

[Youre_Right]

I owe my life to an air ambulance. I was in a major car wreck. I was a passenger in the back seat. We pulled out of an apartment complex that had a now leasing sign obstructing the view. We pulled right into the path of a car going an estimated 70 mph on a 45 mph road. The impact tore the aorta off my heart. That was the most major injury as well as multiple broken bones and other internal injuries. Had I not been airlifted to a level 4 trauma unit I probably wouldn’t be typing this.

[luciansorrell]

I’m a volunteer firefighter so I have to deal with flight paramedics often and I must say y’all are the coolest most humble people ever and I’m thankful for y’all makes my job easier

[blakslee]

I like starting your shift off with “I’m safe.” Seems like it would set a good mood for your crew

[jayraymond]

A couple of cool “inside baseball” things:

1) You might hear them say “sterile” during the interfacility transport at night. That refers to a sterile cockpit. Only essential communication and safety communications is done by the crew during this phase of flight.

2) The interfacility transport can be incredibly simple with the potential of something going wrong or an incredibly complex call with a potential of something going sideways as well. When the nurse says “all the things”, they’re referring to lifesaving materials as well as ICU stuff like ventilators and pumps and the potential to have what amounts to a (temporary) flying ICU.

You have to realize the strain this type of work puts on your body. By the time they’re doing checkout in the morning, he’s 6 plus hours into his day. They’re gone for 24 hours and the sleep is a really precious resource. Often times, crews like this can run non stop and really be running on muscle memory and training. It’s a very unique position with critical thinking and multiple different skill sets working in unison to save lives.

[titusdaniel]

these guys are so badass. I'm an emt in a rural mountain town in the Colorado Rockies, minimum 1 hour transport to the nearest level 4 trauma. It's such an amazing feeling when you know the shit has hit the fan, but you're able to get medevac from a "nearby" city helo crew. You know that patient is going where they need to go, as fast as humanly possible, with the best providers available.

[DocM.]

*I hope NOBODY ever has to see you at work unless it's on a video* ❤️

Thank you for your service and sacrifices!

[pacificblue]

For years I was a flight medic for a fixed wing service. It was one of the most challenging, incredible, career defining experiences I have had thus far. Treating a patient on multiple drips and pumps and on a vent can be truly intense. For several years I also have worked as a firefighter/paramedic and have responded to some critically injured people, and I have loved every shift that I’ve worked, but I can truthfully say, there’s something pretty amazing about being a flight medic.

[MrJRod]

Definitely would have been nice to see the patient care but I understand the HIPPA laws for that. But it was still good to see what y'all go through. Just a day in the life of what a flight medic/nurse/pilot is. I enjoyed it.

[pepperroni]

That's an interesting team composition, in the UK it's typically a critical care paramedic and a doctor on a helicopter/RRV.

[russellwilliams]

My mother and father work on the same crew for air medical in Tempe, AZ and have been doing so for 20 years! One a doctor and the other a pilot! I am getting edju-muh-cated to follow their footsteps and can not put into words how proud I am to be their son! All of the air medical crews in the USA and the world are heroes. Thank you for all ya'll do!

[kevinfrantz]

I greatly appreciate the flight group out of Indiana ( Parkview Samaritan ) who saved my life not once but twice and I owe them so much ! Fracture skull in 1996 & motorcycle versus 2 deer @ 70 mph ! If not for these top notch professional's I wouldn't be here today ! Thank you all, you are a God's gift ❣

[mtnride]

Was a Flight Paramedic in Southern California for a few years part time as I was a full-time career Fire Fighter at the time. Worked with some great professional folks and flew quite a few missions. LOVED IT. Be Safe up there.

[flhtc]

As a former Flight RN doing Helicopter, Airplane and Ambulance transports for ten years, this is an awesome video! I miss those days. Stay safe and thanks for what you do!

[christopherfisher]

I think it's really cool that you showed a typical day and didn't try for a "highlight reel" of selected clips. Loads of info. Thanks.

[thatonedaniel]

I agree with Eric. Unless you love aviation, your training can get very painfull in some parts and preparation for some exams can be even worse. So big props to Eric for doing this and saving people's lives!
Also I find it interesting, that the heli is only single engine.

[Wont-He-Do-it]

I am currently just 17 years old, turning 18 in a couple months and I want to go to school to be an EMT and work up to being a flight medic. This video makes me even more excited than I already was :)

[vtibchi]

The production quality of this video was spectacular! Well done, Sam!

[KVaughnG]

As an EMT-B, I love to see more advanced critical care in the EMS world

[friarbishme]

From the UK myself but just want to still say Thank you for the great work you do. You're all heroes

[scottd]

For ppl that follow this field..I can attest to the dangers the crew face on every flight to provide such a high level of care . On jan 11 2022..my brother was a flight medic transporting a young patient to Philadelphia children's hospital for much needed care. Little did the crew know how different this flight would be much different than any other mission. Just outside of Philadelphia the aircraft began having difficulties and at one point the aircraft was inverted. Somehow the pilot was able to right the aircraft enough to avoid disaster and miraculously all survived what was a very hard landing/ " controlled " crash....right next to a church. The crew sprung into action upon the crash to ensure the safety of its patient. All are recovering well. These men and women are true heroes that perform these missions. My deepest gratitude and appreciation to all of you.