Activation Criteria | University of Iowa Health Care

The following criteria suggest use of AirCare for transport. Here are examples of when calling AirCare is appropriate:

Motor vehicle crash with:
- Compartment intrusion greater than one foot
- Fatality in the same accident
- Ejection of the patient
- Pedestrian/cyclist crash
- Prolonged extrication
- Evidence of significant head, chest, abdomen or pelvis injury
- Motorcycle crash at speed greater than 20 mph with ejection

Mass casualty incidents

Partial or full amputation

Signs of stroke / CVA

Signs of myocardial infarction

Chest pain in patients with previous cardiac surgery or catheterization

Penetrating trauma (especially to the head, chest and abdomen)

Crush injury to head, chest, abdomen or pelvis

Fall (greater than 15 feet for adults, and two times the height of a child)

Multi-system trauma

Major body surface burn or burn involving the face or airway

Any spinal cord injury or unstable vertebral column injury

Ground transportation more than 30 minutes

Glascow coma scale less than 13

Drowning or near drowning

Any adult or pediatric critical medical illness requiring rapid stabilization and transfer

AirCare’s Rapid Response Program expedites bringing our advanced capabilities to patients with time sensitive needs.

Severe trauma

STEMI

Suspected or known intracranial hemorrhage

Acute neurological deficit (<24 hours) with concern for stroke

Critically ill children meeting one or more criteria:
- Intubated
- NIPPV requirement excluding nasal cannula based NIPPV
- Status asthmaticus requiring continuous bronchodilators
- Vasopressor requirement
- Failed airway