Delivering pre-hospital emergency medicine in extreme environments is the daily challenge for Norwegian HEMS teams, including medics operating in HEMS Kirkenes, based in Finnmark county, the northernmost and easternmost county in Norway.
For emergency first responders having immediate access to vital blood products helps save lives in pre-hospital operations by Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) worldwide. The instant availability of life-giving, lifesaving blood is a critical component to the effective delivery of pre-hospital emergency medicine and paramount to ensure patients’ survival rates are maximised.
This Case Study discusses the challenges faced by the terrain, harsh weather and difficult operating conditions faced by Norwegian Air Ambulance when operating in the far north of the country, high up in the Arctic Circle.
