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Survival Flight is the University of Michigan's air medical
transport program extending the reach of University Hospitals' care.
Our highly-skilled critical care transport specialists use
the most up to date medical aviation equipment and are available 24 hours a day, 365
days a year, to:
- Transport seriously ill and injured patients from local
or regional hospitals to specialized treatment facilities at the University
of Michigan Medical Center or other tertiary care centers.
- Evacuate critically injured adults and children quickly
and safely from accident sites to trauma treatment facilities.
- Transfer neonates and newborns needing specialized
intensive care services.
- Transport organs and organ transplant teams from
hospital to hospital. Provide back-up to public safety agencies for aerial
searches, triage and disaster management.
One toll free phone number 
provides
convenient access to all Survival Flight services.
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Survival Flight operates two twin-engine Bell 230 helicopters (one 24 hours a day;
one 12 hours a day), a medically configured fixed wing Cessna Citation jet,
and a modular pediatric ground ambulance.
Survival Flight helicopters are capable of carrying two patients, a two-person medical
crew, a full complement of advanced life support equipment and avionics and communications equipment.
When specialized equipme for stabilizing pediatric or spinal cord injury patients
required, it can be added the helicopter's in-flight intensive care environment.
Survival Flight Bell helicopters fly at an average speed of 172 miles per hour and serve
air mile radius around Ann Arbor. For more distant destinations in Michigan,
United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, transport
by fixed-wing aircraft is used.
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Survival Flight staffs with an RN/RN crew configuration and
is directed by University of Michigan emergency department physicians. Essential
support staff include communications specialists, pilots and mechanics all trained
to deliver the safest, most effective emergency medical transport service possible.
When specialized care, such as extra-corporeal life support (ECMO), neonatology or
pediatric cardiology is required, physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists
from those specialties join the Survival Flight team.
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A FAA reviewed landing zone is desirable at hospitals that use
Survival Flight frequently. At other sites, including accident
scenes, certain rules should be observed for safe operations:
- LZ area must be obstacle free (no trees, wires, debris, etc. in LZ vicinity)
- LZ should be marked with flares or lights (keep lights shining down to avoid
blinding the pilots)
- Pilot needs to know wind direction using flare, etc.
- Keep area clear of people
- All persons should stay away from the aircraft until told to approach by
the pilot
- NEVER APPROACH THE AIRCRAFT FROM THE REAR
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General Instructions:
- When requesting a patient transfer, please be prepared to give the
following information:
- patient name, age, sex, weight, and location
- type and extent of illness or injury, vital signs, treatment received
- Landing site information: ground contact and radio frequency
- One copy of medical records, pertinent laboratory/diagnostic data, x-rays,
pre-hospital records
- Provide stretcher for transport
For Trauma Patients:
- Secure airway
- Backboard and C-collar on all trauma patients
- Two large-bore IV lines (plastic bags preferred)
- Nasogastric tube for the following patient conditions
- altered level of consciousness
- abdominal trauma
- multi-system trauma
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Survival Flight LD is the University of Michigan Medical
Center's fixed wing medical transport service. It uses a cabin pressurized Cessna any aspect of flight operations
Citation jet capable of flying over 400 knots per hour.
Survival Flight LD utilizes the same crew and sophisticated equipment used in the
helicopter service. Specialty teams for neonatal, pediatric cardiology and extra-corporeal
life support are available to Survival Flight LD as well.
Survival Flight requires dispatch personnel to obtain financial information including
a guarantee of payment for all transport charges prior to
authorization of transport.
A Survival Flight LD crew is airborne and usually on its way
within two hours of receiving a request. Critically ill or injured
patients can be delivered to a hospital selected by the attending physician,
patient, and/or family.
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Survival Flight provides and participates in a variety of educational activities
including:
- Continuing Medical Education
- Weekly Survival Flight Rounds
- Trauma/Burn Grand Rounds
- Landing zone preparation classes
- Annual Tri-State Emergency Nursing Symposium
Survival Flight is also a leader in air medical research.
For further information on any aspect of flight operations or programs contact the
Survival Flight business office at 313-936-6045. For patient transports contact Survival
Flight dispatch at 1-800-822-2233.
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Last modified on: Friday, 16-Jun-95 09:24:16