Air ambulance pre-hospital care may make surviving critical injury more likely

Associated with saving 5 more lives than expected out of every 100 seriously injured people

2026-02-04

(Press-News.org) Air ambulance pre-hospital care (HEMS) may make surviving critical injury more likely as it’s associated with saving 5 more lives than would be expected in every 100 major trauma cases, suggests an analysis of survival data for one regional service in South East England, and published online in Emergency Medicine Journal.

International evidence for the impact on survival of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) in major trauma has been hampered by methodological differences, inadequate sample sizes, and no agreed definitions of outcome, explain the researchers. And it’s not clear which patients might benefit the most from these services.

To find out, the researchers retrospectively analysed the outcomes of 3225 trauma patients in receipt of pre-hospital care from one HEMS team covering Kent, Surrey, and Sussex between 2013 and 2022.

They applied a statistical technique to identify the probability of survival (Ws analysis) adjusting for case-mix, and predictors of death within 30 days.

They also looked at unexpected predictors of survival and resumption of heartbeat (return of spontaneous circulation) rates in traumatic cardiac arrest—when the heart stops beating after severe injury, such as major bleeding or chest trauma.

In all, 2125 patients exceeded 30 day survival following the incident (85% vs expected 81%), equivalent to 5 extra survivors in every 100 patients, adding up to as many as 115 additional lives saved each year, based on the average number of trauma patients attended by the service.

Those patients most likely to benefit were those who were severely injured with a moderate (25-45%) probability of survival: 35% of them unexpectedly survived for 30 days.

And among patients whose probability of survival was low (less than 50%), because of the extent of their injuries, 39% unexpectedly survived.

Key predictors of unexpected survival were younger age and higher initial Glasgow Coma Scale—a 3 to 15 point score used to assess level of consciousness after a brain injury.

Pre-hospital emergency anaesthesia, which puts a trauma patient into an induced coma, and can only be performed by advanced care teams, such as HEMS, was independently associated with unexpected survival in this group.

Among 1316 patients in traumatic cardiac arrest, 356 (27%) sustained return of spontaneous circulation while en route to hospital and 960 patients were pronounced dead at the scene.

Of the 356 still alive, 30 day survival data were available for 185 (52%) of them: 46 (25%) were still alive after 30 days;139 died in hospital. The probability of the resumption of spontaneous circulation increased 6% year on year between 2013 and 2022, the analysis indicated.

The researchers caution that their estimates represent excess survival compared with modelled predictions, rather than a causal effect of HEMS, and they assume consistent performance and case-mix over time, which may not always happen.

Nevertheless, they say their findings illustrate “the potential magnitude of clinical benefit, consistent with previous economic and social benefits demonstrated in previous studies.”

They conclude: “These findings provide supportive evidence for continued investment in HEMS, particularly for severely injured patients, though comparative studies with alternative care pathways are needed to establish causal effectiveness.”

END

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Significant gaps persist in regional UK access to 24/7 air ambulance services

2026-02-04

Despite significant improvements in the availability of 24/7 emergency air ambulance services (HEMS) across the UK since 2009, persistent regional gaps remain, finds research published online in Emergency Medicine Journal. And the provision of advanced potentially life saving interventions, such as blood transfusion and a minimally invasive procedure to staunch severe bleeding and stabilise blood pressure (resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta) remains variable, the findings indicate. Helicopter ...

Reproduction in space, an environment hostile to human biology

2026-02-04

As commercial spaceflight draws ever closer and time spent in space continues to extend, the question of reproductive health beyond the bounds of planet Earth is no longer theoretical but now ‘urgently practical,’ according to a new study. ‘More than 50 years ago,’ explains clinical embryologist Giles Palmer from the International IVF Initiative Inc, ‘two scientific breakthroughs reshaped what was thought biologically and physically possible - the first Moon landing and the first proof of human fertilisation in vitro. Now, more than half a century later, we argue in this report that these once-separate revolutions ...

Political division in the US surged from 2008 onwards, study suggests

2026-02-04

Almost all the rise in US polarisation over political issues since the late 1980s occurred from 2008 onwards, a new study suggests. Most of this has been driven by the American left becoming more socially liberal over time. Far more Americans now adopt party and ideological labels in line with their opinions than did in the late 1980s. Despite deeper divides, the US left and right remain equal in size, in contrast to the rest of the world. Divisions within the US population on social and political issues have increased ...

No need for rare earths or liquid helium! Cryogenic cooling material composed solely of abundant elements

2026-02-03

In collaboration with the National Institute of Technology (KOSEN), Oshima College, the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) succeeded in developing a new regenerator material composed solely of abundant elements, such as copper, iron, and aluminum, that can achieve cryogenic temperatures (approx. 4 K = −269°C or below) without using any rare-earth metals or liquid helium. By utilizing a special property called "frustration" found in some magnetic materials, where the spins cannot simultaneously satisfy each other's orientations in a triangular lattice, the team demonstrated a novel method that replaces the ...

Urban light pollution alters nighttime hormones in sharks, study shows

2026-02-03

First-ever measurements of melatonin in wild sharks show that artificial light from coastal cities can disrupt nighttime hormone levels, with resident species more affected than highly mobile sharks. MIAMI — Artificial light from major coastal cities can disrupt the nighttime biology of sharks, according to new research that provides the first-ever measurements of melatonin—a hormone tied to biological rhythms—in wild sharks. The study, published in Science of the Total Environment, found that sharks living in brightly lit coastal waters near large urban areas had altered melatonin levels at night compared to ...

Pregnancy, breastfeeding associated with higher levels of cognitive function for postmenopausal women

2026-02-03

Key Takeaways Pregnancy and breastfeeding may improve long-term cognitive function in women. The study found that an increase in cumulative time spent pregnant and time spent breastfeeding correlated with greater cognition, verbal memory and visual memory later in life. The findings may open the door to potential advancements in preventative strategies targeting women at greater risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Female brains have historically evolved to adapt to pregnancy, undergoing structural and functional changes. But the cognitive health implications of these adaptations have long ...

Tiny dots, big impact: Using light to scrub industrial dyes from our water

2026-02-03

The vibrant colors in our clothes and consumer goods often come at a heavy environmental price. Organic dyes are notorious water pollutants, stubbornly resisting traditional treatment and threatening aquatic ecosystems. Now, a comprehensive review published in Carbon Research highlights a brilliant new solution: using microscopic "carbon dots" and common polymers to harness the power of light for cleaning up contaminated water. Leading this research is Professor Elena F. Krivoshapkina from ITMO University in St. Petersburg. Her team’s ...

Scientists uncover how biochar microzones help protect crops from toxic cadmium

2026-02-03

A new study reveals that biochar can create tiny but powerful soil microenvironments that significantly reduce cadmium contamination in crops. The findings offer fresh insight into how this carbon-rich material can improve food safety and environmental health when applied to polluted farmland. The research, published in Sustainable Carbon Materials, shows that when biochar is mixed into soil, it forms a distinct zone known as the “charosphere.” Within only a few millimeters around each biochar particle, soil chemistry changes in ways that ...

Graphene-based materials show promise for tackling new environmental contaminants

2026-02-03

Scientists are exploring how graphene-based materials could help solve one of the most pressing environmental challenges of the modern era: the growing spread of new contaminants in water, soil, and ecosystems. In a newly published perspective article, researchers highlight how advanced graphene-based technologies may provide powerful tools for removing emerging pollutants, including microplastics, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, pharmaceutical residues, and radioactive contaminants. These substances are increasingly detected in natural and engineered environments but remain difficult to remove using conventional treatment methods. New contaminants, ...

Where fires used to be frequent, old forests now face high risk of devastating blazes

2026-02-03

CORVALLIS, Ore. – A new analysis shows that the Pacific Northwest’s mature and old-growth forests are most at risk of severe wildfire in areas that historically burned frequently at lower severity. The study by scientists at Oregon State University and USDA Forest Service Research & Development is important because those forests are culturally, economically and ecologically significant, supporting biodiversity while storing vast amounts of carbon, and they are under increasing threat of stand-replacing wildfire. Researchers used state-of-the-art modeling techniques to gain knowledge that can help guide ...

Air ambulance pre-hospital care may make surviving critical injury more likely

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: