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The Mac attack
Personal Journal
The Mac Attack by Don Scalf It was just about noon and Marty was feeling the first pangs of hunger. The switchboard operator was teasing Marry on how wonderful two all-beef patties would taste. In defense, Marty kept pointing at his stomach, claiming if she didn't rush to the local gourmet barn during their lunch hour, his chances of survival till dinner time were nil. After a tearful exchange of money and well wishes, plus a few "God speed" thrown in by Marty, the young operator was on her way. Whenever the ALERT phone rings, it seems that the first halfsecond always catches the ALERT nurse by surprise. Marty was able to pick up the phone on the second ring. As Marty was hanging up the receiver, he yelled for the supervisor-it was a go. This wasn't going to be a "milk r u n " - - a hiking party had one of their members caught in a rock slide on the back side of McDonald Peak. Once an emergency is initiated, the first three minutes are critical. The pilot must have the helicopter started and up to operating RPM. The E M T on call must coordinate with police dispatch as he rushes through Kalispell on "Code 3." The flight nurse must get ail the emergency medical supplies, plus the medical protocol out to the helicopter and insure each item is loaded in its correct location. The team of pilot, flight nurse, and E M T now functions together as a cohesive unit. A faint cry is heard in the background: "Marty, I have your lunch?" Marry quickly dashes back to the helipad gate, grabs the gourmet special, and swings into the helicopter giving the pilot the "thumbs-up" signal. Marty's original intent was to have a slow, leisurely lunch; instead, it was gulping it down before arrival at the accident scene. The McDonald Peak area has extremely rugged terrain. The party of six mountain hikers were on the east side of the peak where the accident occurred. Their injured friend was lucky to only have a broken leg, considering the landslide he had been pulled out of. The injured hiker was in a party that was attempting to hike the Mission Mountain Range lengthwise. This was the twelfth day of their hike, and fatigue probably was one of the factors in the injury. During those twelve days of hiking, their diet consisted of "if it's light and concentrated, we'll eat it and like it." That all sounds well and good, but all six of those guys would have given their neighbor's right arm for a hamburger. Marty had stabilized the patient and was sitting inside the helicopter waiting for
the pilot, EMT, and friends to complete the stretcher-loading procedure. The crew had to be careful of the patient's broken leg. When they finally did lift the patient into the aircraft, he got that excited look o n his face. Marty caught on right away. It didn't take a genius to figure out what caught the patient's fancy. Remember the smell when you drive away from a McDonald's restaurant with two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun? On the floor of the helicopter was the box that should contain that gourmet delight. Automatically, the patient's hand went towards his wallet and out came $10. Marty has been known to par-take in a capitalistic game called "wheeling and
dealing." In this particular game, the entrepreneur buys low and sells high, making a nice little profit for his time and effort. There were almost tears in Marty's eyes when he announced to the halfstarved patient, "I ate it on the way." Needless to say, the flight back lacked communication. W h a t can be said by two very unhappy people? Don Scalf is Chief Pilot for ALERT, sponsored by KalispeN Regional Hospital in Kalispell, MT. Mr. Scalf adds that, "This was an actual air rescue; however, while talking with Marty in the Emergency Room, I found the aspect of food more interesting than the rescue. Marty Boehm has been an ALERT flight nurse for over eight years. This event took place before I hired on as Chief Pilot in March 1980."
Sparling's Direct Fueling System Vendor transport is offloaded with filtration into your storage system and then, with filtration, into your aircraft. Flow to the aircraft includes a water monitor with positive shutd o w n . O v e r w i n g and/or single point fueling, flow rates from 25 to 300 GPM, pressure and surge control. Custom designed to suit your needs.
• • • •
Lower fuel costs No fuel comingling Less turnaround time Your own quality control
Complete line of Refueler Trucks and mobile refueling equipment are also available.
12250 COYLE AVE. DETROIT,M148227 (313)838-4400
HOSPITAL AVIATION, JUNE 1986 15
The Mac Attack by Don Scalf It was just about noon and Marty was feeling the first pangs of hunger. The switchboard operator was teasing Marry on how wonderful two all-beef patties would taste. In defense, Marty kept pointing at his stomach, claiming if she didn't rush to the local gourmet barn during their lunch hour, his chances of survival till dinner time were nil. After a tearful exchange of money and well wishes, plus a few "God speed" thrown in by Marty, the young operator was on her way. Whenever the ALERT phone rings, it seems that the first halfsecond always catches the ALERT nurse by surprise. Marty was able to pick up the phone on the second ring. As Marty was hanging up the receiver, he yelled for the supervisor-it was a go. This wasn't going to be a "milk r u n " - - a hiking party had one of their members caught in a rock slide on the back side of McDonald Peak. Once an emergency is initiated, the first three minutes are critical. The pilot must have the helicopter started and up to operating RPM. The E M T on call must coordinate with police dispatch as he rushes through Kalispell on "Code 3." The flight nurse must get ail the emergency medical supplies, plus the medical protocol out to the helicopter and insure each item is loaded in its correct location. The team of pilot, flight nurse, and E M T now functions together as a cohesive unit. A faint cry is heard in the background: "Marty, I have your lunch?" Marry quickly dashes back to the helipad gate, grabs the gourmet special, and swings into the helicopter giving the pilot the "thumbs-up" signal. Marty's original intent was to have a slow, leisurely lunch; instead, it was gulping it down before arrival at the accident scene. The McDonald Peak area has extremely rugged terrain. The party of six mountain hikers were on the east side of the peak where the accident occurred. Their injured friend was lucky to only have a broken leg, considering the landslide he had been pulled out of. The injured hiker was in a party that was attempting to hike the Mission Mountain Range lengthwise. This was the twelfth day of their hike, and fatigue probably was one of the factors in the injury. During those twelve days of hiking, their diet consisted of "if it's light and concentrated, we'll eat it and like it." That all sounds well and good, but all six of those guys would have given their neighbor's right arm for a hamburger. Marty had stabilized the patient and was sitting inside the helicopter waiting for
the pilot, EMT, and friends to complete the stretcher-loading procedure. The crew had to be careful of the patient's broken leg. When they finally did lift the patient into the aircraft, he got that excited look o n his face. Marty caught on right away. It didn't take a genius to figure out what caught the patient's fancy. Remember the smell when you drive away from a McDonald's restaurant with two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame seed bun? On the floor of the helicopter was the box that should contain that gourmet delight. Automatically, the patient's hand went towards his wallet and out came $10. Marty has been known to par-take in a capitalistic game called "wheeling and
dealing." In this particular game, the entrepreneur buys low and sells high, making a nice little profit for his time and effort. There were almost tears in Marty's eyes when he announced to the halfstarved patient, "I ate it on the way." Needless to say, the flight back lacked communication. W h a t can be said by two very unhappy people? Don Scalf is Chief Pilot for ALERT, sponsored by KalispeN Regional Hospital in Kalispell, MT. Mr. Scalf adds that, "This was an actual air rescue; however, while talking with Marty in the Emergency Room, I found the aspect of food more interesting than the rescue. Marty Boehm has been an ALERT flight nurse for over eight years. This event took place before I hired on as Chief Pilot in March 1980."
Sparling's Direct Fueling System Vendor transport is offloaded with filtration into your storage system and then, with filtration, into your aircraft. Flow to the aircraft includes a water monitor with positive shutd o w n . O v e r w i n g and/or single point fueling, flow rates from 25 to 300 GPM, pressure and surge control. Custom designed to suit your needs.
• • • •
Lower fuel costs No fuel comingling Less turnaround time Your own quality control
Complete line of Refueler Trucks and mobile refueling equipment are also available.
12250 COYLE AVE. DETROIT,M148227 (313)838-4400
HOSPITAL AVIATION, JUNE 1986 15