CareForce - Non-injury incident

Date: 4/3/07 2115 ET

Program: CareForce
	Five Richland Medical Park Drive
	Columbia, SC  29203

Type: BH-206-L4
Tail #: N154MW
Operator/Vendor: Omniflight

Weather: Clear. Not a factor

Team: Pilot, two flight nurses. No injuries reported. Patient on board. 

Description: 
	Helicopter dispatched to a scene call to pick up a possibly
	intoxicated head injury patient who was at times combative, although
	in full immobilization.  The patient had both pants legs cut up to
	the beltline for assessment by ground EMS, but pants had not been
	removed.  During the hand-over, the flight crew was told the patient
	was ?well-known? to local EMS.  He was deemed safe for flight.  14
	minutes from landing at the receiving hospital, the patient was able
	to reach into his left pants pocket (between the stretcher and
	aircraft door) and retrieve and unfold a 3? folding pocket knife
	which he raised over his head.  Both flight nurses immediately
	restrained his arm and took the knife away.  There were no injuries
	to crew or damage to the aircraft.
	
	Hospital security contacted local law enforcement, and aircraft
	vendor?s safety chain includes FAA notification.  Program management
	contacted referring EMS agency, and both agreed that a reinforcement
	of scene safety including potential for concealed weapons, was
	indicated for both EMS and flight crews.

Source: Scott K. Newell, Program Director

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The CONCERN network shares verified information to alert medical transport programs when an accident / incident has occurred. Please share the above information with your program staff. If you have further questions, please contact the CONCERN Coordinator, David Kearns at 800 525 3712 or email: coordinator@concern-network.org.

Copyright 2006 ASTNA