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Table 1 Characteristics of HHO Missions (n=11,228)

From: Incidence and challenges of helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) rescue missions with helicopter hoist operations: analysis of 11,228 daytime and nighttime missions in Switzerland

Variable

Day n= 9,963 (88.7%)

Night n= 1,265 (11.3%)

Age, mean years ± SD

46.8 ±19.2

40.5 ±19.2

Neonate <1 day, n (%)

22 (0.2)

2 (0.2)

<18 years, n (%)

498 (5)

103 (8.1)

80+ years, n (%)

297 (3.0)

23 (1.8)

Unknown/Missing

57 (0.6)

12 (0.9)

Accident Occurrence, n (%)

Hiking

3,568 (35.8)

411 (32.5)

Climbing / mountaineering  

1,522 (15.3)

245 (19.4)

Paragliding

402 (4.0)

27 (2.1)

Winter sports (skiing, freeriding, etc.)

975 (9.8)

123 (9.7)

Road accident

1,388 (13.9)

56 (4.4)

Other

1,393 (14.0)

306 (24.2)

Unknown / missing

715 (7.2)

97 (7.7)

NACA Score + , n (%)

0 = No injury or disease

2,259 (22.7)

610 (48.2)

1 = Injuries/diseases without any need for acute physician care

395 (4.0)

80 (6.3)

2 = Injuries/diseases requiring examination and therapy by a physician but hospital admission is not indicated

820 (8.2)

51 (4.0)

3 = Injuries/diseases without acute threat to life but requiring hospital admission

3,731 (37.5)

219 (17.3)

4 = Injuries/diseases that can possibly lead to deterioration of vital signs

1,466 (14.7)

149 (11.8)

5 = Injuries/diseases with acute threat to life

380 (3.8)

46 (3.2)

6 = Injuries/diseases requiring resuscitation

53 (0.5)

4 (0.3)

7 = Lethal injuries or diseases (with or without resuscitation attempts)

859 (8.6)

106 (8.4)

Diagnosis, n (%)

Trauma

6,430 (64.5)

528 (41.7)

Medical

1,119 (11.2)

104 (8.2)

Uninjured

2,414 (24.2)

633 (50.0)

Procedures Performed, n (%)

Analgesia

3,121 (31.3)

202 (16.0)

Peripheral vascular access

3,857 (38.7)

268 (21.2)

Endotracheal intubation

196 (2.0)

13 (1.0)

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

176 (1.8)

11 (0.9)

Mucosal atomisation device

73 (0.7)

11 (0.9)

Immobilisation vacuum mattress

1,994 (20.0)

185 (14.6)

Needle thoracostomy

19 (0.2)

1 (0.1)

Surgical thoracostomy

8 (0.1)

1 (0.1)

Mission Times, median minutes (IQR)

Emergency call to take-off at base

9 (7 to 15)

22 (11 to 36)

Take-off at base to hospital

52 (40 to 67)

69 (50 to 94)

Emergency call to hospital

67 (54 to 83)

83 (73 to 129)

Reached the hospital ≤60 min

Overall

2,668 (26.8)

71 (5.6)

NACA 1 - 3 (Day: n = 4946; Night: n = 350)

2,206 (44.6)

43 (12.3)

NACA 4 - 6 (Day: n = 1899; Night: n = 199)

400 (21.1)

18 (9.1)

  1. Data were complete if not otherwise stated. SD standard deviation; NACA National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics; +Trauma patients were in significantly worse condition than non-trauma patients (p < 0.001)  in terms of NACA score.