Vanderbilt LifeFlight utilizes four helicopters, two airplanes, and one critical care transport ambulance. Two highly-trained, experienced nurses staff each transport unit. These nurses are trained in the care of neonatal, pediatric, adult and geriatric patients. They are trained to care for patients with any type of medical illness or traumatic injury.

Each transport unit has an onboard ventilator, intravenous infusion pump, critical care transport monitors, blood products, and an extensive supply of medications. The nurses have the ability to perform invasive life-saving procedures in transport such as:

• femoral line insertion
• needle chest decompression
• chest tube insertion
• rapid sequence induction with oral intubation
• nasal intubation
• needle cricothyrotomy
• surgical cricothyrotomy
  
   

Medical control is available 24/7 in the event that the nurses need to speak with a Vanderbilt physician regarding patient care. Specialty physicians from areas such as toxicology, obstetrics, neonatology, neurosurgery, and cardiology can be reached at all times during transport.

Vanderbilt's Comprehensive Transport System
Experienced EMTs and paramedics answer the Vanderbilt LifeFlight phones. In 2003, Vanderbilt LifeFlight implemented a comprehensive patient transport system. This means Vanderbilt LifeFlight chooses the appropriate mode of transportation for the patient's needs. Most often ambulances and helicopters are requested. However, an airplane may be the optimal mode of transportation but is often overlooked.

Read more about the different modes of transportation:

• Ambulances
• Helicopters (rotor-wing aircraft)
• Airplanes (fixed-wing aircraft)