Defining the characteristics of physically demanding winch rescue in helicopter search and rescue operations

Ben Meadley; Kelly-Ann Bowles; Karen Smith; Luke Perraton; Joanne Caldwell

doi:10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103375

Defining the characteristics of physically demanding winch rescue in helicopter search and rescue operations

Appl Ergon. 2021 May:93:103375. doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103375. Epub 2021 Feb 1.

Authors

Ben Meadley¹, Kelly-Ann Bowles², Karen Smith³, Luke Perraton⁴, Joanne Caldwell⁵

Affiliations

¹ Monash University, Paramedic Health and Wellbeing Research Unit, McMahons Rd, Frankston, 3199, Australia; Monash University, Department of Paramedicine, McMahons Rd, Frankston, VIC, 3199, Australia; Ambulance Victoria, PO Box 2000, Doncaster, VIC, 3108, Australia. Electronic address: benjamin.meadley@monash.edu.
² Monash University, Paramedic Health and Wellbeing Research Unit, McMahons Rd, Frankston, 3199, Australia; Monash University, Department of Paramedicine, McMahons Rd, Frankston, VIC, 3199, Australia.
³ Monash University, Paramedic Health and Wellbeing Research Unit, McMahons Rd, Frankston, 3199, Australia; Monash University, Department of Paramedicine, McMahons Rd, Frankston, VIC, 3199, Australia; Ambulance Victoria, PO Box 2000, Doncaster, VIC, 3108, Australia.
⁴ Monash University, Paramedic Health and Wellbeing Research Unit, McMahons Rd, Frankston, 3199, Australia; Monash University, Department of Physiotherapy, McMahons Rd, Frankston, VIC, 3199, Australia.
⁵ Monash University, Paramedic Health and Wellbeing Research Unit, McMahons Rd, Frankston, 3199, Australia; Monash University, Department of Physiology, Wellington Rd, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.

PMID: 33540207
DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103375

Abstract

Helicopter emergency medical service search and rescue (HEMS SAR) paramedics perform physically demanding winch rescues. Rescue organisations require valid physical employment standards (PES) to ensure personnel can adequately perform duties. There are no studies describing validated PES for HEMS SAR. We convened a subject matter expert (SME) focus group to review historical case data and generate task descriptions for land and water winch rescue as the basis for development of task simulations to assess physiological workload. Sixteen helicopter rescue paramedics with a mean age of 47 (range, 36-52) years and 8 (2-20) years' experience in helicopter rescue participated in a SME focus group. When provided with data from historical cases, SMEs achieved consensus (≥80%) when generating descriptions of winch rescue. This method may be useful to develop simulations for assessment of physiological demands of winch rescue and similar tasks, and to enhance validity and reliability of PES for rescue organisations.

Keywords: Paramedics; Physical employment standards; Rescue.

MeSH terms

Adult
Air Ambulances*
Aircraft
Emergency Medical Services*
Focus Groups
Humans
Middle Aged
Physical Exertion*
Reproducibility of Results
Rescue Work*