A civilian air emergency service: a report of its development, technical aspects, and experience.

1) The development of Air Emergency Service sponsored by a private community hospital is described. 2) Helicopter evacuation of the seriously injured and critically ill in civilian life proved feasible if the community is willing to pay for the services rendered. 3) Two thousand six hundred fifty patients have been transported by helicopter (85%) or fixed-wing plane in 27 months. A minimum of 2,000 flights seems a certainty for 1975. 4) The types of patient, causes of death, and other medical aspects are discussed. 5) The helicopter must be considered as only one component in the E.M.S. System. It will be successful only with development of a complete program which includes: communications; cooperation of law enforcement agencies, fire districts, and rescue squads; integration with ground transportation; the inclusion of highly trained allied medical personnel, physicians, emergency departments and hospitals; and community education and acceptance.