LifeNet South Carolina

Immediately after receiving required preliminary information listed below the flight team will be activated for patient transport.

For non-emergency information or questions about other LifeNet SC services, please call the LifeNet SC office at (803) 256-5886 or send us an email. Below are more details you will need when requesting LifeNet SC for various transports.

Activating LifeNet SC

HOSPITAL-TO-HOSPITAL TRANSPORTS

In order to facilitate a hospital-to-hospital transfer, there must be a referring and receiving physician. Please be prepared to give the dispatcher the following information when making your request:

1) Name of hospital

2) Name of referring and receiving physician

3) Your call back phone number

4) Patient's name, age and weight

5) Patient's illness, or injury, vital signs, and medications

6) Any special equipment or medications needed

To request LifeNet SC, for an Emergency transport call:

1-800-327-2611

SCENE CALLS

Scene call response may be requested by EMS, fire, rescue, medical, or law enforcement personnel at the scene of an accident or major emergency in compliance with local county protocol. Please be prepared to give the dispatcher the following information when making your request:

1) Your name and the name of the EMS agency

2) Phone number

3) Location of the scene or predesignated Landing Zone (LZ)

4) Nature of the emergency and any known medical information

5) Contact unit on the scene

Once airborne, the flight crew will notify you of their estimated time of arrival. When LifeNet SC is approximately 5-10 minutes from arriving, they will attempt to contact the unit in charge of the landing zone (LZ). For more information on securing and setting up an LZ, see the LZ Safety link on the top menu bar.

For helicopter transport of Neonatal & Pediatric patients to Palmetto Richland call the Neonatal & Pediatric Transport Team at 803-434-7222

RADIO COMMUNICATION WITH THE HELICOPTER

Once the aircraft is airborne, We will contact you on your primary radio frequency. LifeNet SC has the ability to monitor the state-wide primary radio frequency of 155.340.

PLACING LIFENET SC ON STANDBY

Whenever preliminary information or mechanism of injury indicate helicopter transport may be required, we encourage to place LifeNet SC on "standby." Being on standby enables the flight crew to determine the location and check the weather conditions ahead of time and allows the aircraft and crew to be prepared for expeditious take-off. This reduces our response time in the event we are needed.

WEATHER

As you know, weather can change rapidly and can be very different from one location to another. When you need air transport and you believe weather is a factor, please do not assume we are not available. The staff of LifeNet SC continually monitors current and forecasted weather conditions in our service area and has access to a number of weather information sources. If you are in need of an interfacility transport and the weather precludes us from an immediate take-off, we can often give you a good estimate of when it would be possible. On scene, if we are not able to reach your destination due to marginal weather, it is sometimes possible to rendezvous at a predetermined location.

For information on LZ training or for general information concerning pre-hospital for Fire and EMS, contact Jack Derrick at (803)413-8218 or by email at jderrick@airmethods.com