We have two of these style stretchers, and two of an older style that still hold a Mark 11 stretcher but are secured into the aircraft slightly differently, using hooks rather than the clamping device.  The aircraft holds any combination of two stretchers - old and new are interchangeable and four seats remain to take medical crew, other patients or relatives.

A special arm can be fitted to either side of the aircraft stretcher to hold a Propaq (R) monitor and leads.  Our "Encore" Propaq (R) allows us to measure several patient parameters such as ECG, SpO2, Invasive BP, Temperature, End-Tidal CO2.  We can also do non-invasive BP monitoring although this is less accurate in flight due to vibration interference. The Propaq (R) plugs into a connector at the base of the arm and is wired into a single charging unit.

Underneath the stretcher is a drawer that houses two syringe pumps, a ventilator, an oxygen bottle and associated fittings.

The drawer secures in place with a simple lock, and can be slid out completely to change the O2 bottle.  The Oxygen bottle is designed to be used for very short periods of transfer only - once in the aircraft we connect to its O2 and save our small supply for the corridor trips on arrival at destination.  Inbuilt on the stretcher is a small flow meter for use with O2 masks on spontaneaously breathing patients - the aircraft also has two flow meters of its own as well as two O2 outlets for our ventilators.

The ventilator is a Drager Oxylog (R) - it is gas driven and delivers 50% or 100% oxygen with easily accessed and adjusted controls for Tidal Volume, Rate, PEEP, Flow rates, Pressure controls and so on.  We add a paediatric Pressure Release valve for children who require tidal volumes of less than 100 mls and  we use a heat and moisture exchange filter on all patients.

The syringe pumps are Graseby (R) 3500 design - they take any syringe and any giving set - we tend to use 60ml B-D syringes and Lecto-spiral giving sets for ease of administration.  The latter stretch from 20 cms to over a metre so are ideal in a transport situation.   The syringe pumps deliver from 0.1 ml to 99.9 ml per hour and are ideally suited for ICU use, they are easily accessed through a hole in the side of the stretcher and simple to operate. Commonest drugs that we infuse in flight are inotropes such as Nor-Adrenaline and Dopamine, sedatives like Midazolam and Morphine in ICU patients; and anti-arrhythmics and GTN on cardiac patients.

All of the equipment on the stretcher is wired through a central charging unit - when stored in ICU just one plug allows us to charge all four electrical items.  In the aircraft this one plug attaches to one of the S-76's two inverters and we continue to reserve our equipment's battery life for the corridor trips at destination.

Other equipment carried is a Lifepak defibrillator when required. (Specified patients - not carried as routine.) This is capable of standard DC defibrillation or cardioversion as well as transcutaneous pacing, ETCO2, SpO2, ECG and NIBP monitoring.

BiPAP ventilator - used for spontaneously ventilating patients who require additional assistance with respirations but in whom formal intubation and ventilation is best avoided. (Chronic respiratory disease patients, asthmastics etc.) We use a Drager BiPAP machine.

SERVO 300 Ventilator - used for specific patients who have very poor lung function and require intricate ventilatory supports that the transport Drager cannot provide.

Cervical support - attached to the Mark 11 stretcher to allow effective cervical traction to be applied in transit.  The patients requires a halo skull traction device - this is then attached to the fitting on the Mark 11 and adjusted to apply the prescribed traction.  The foot end of the Mark 11 has to be lengthened with a purpose built addition to allow the patient to be positioned correctly.

Incubator for neonatal use - this is housed on a standard Mark 11 stretcher and therefore easily positioned onto the aircrafts stretcher.  We also have an older style stretcher that attaches securely to the aircraft's floor with hook devices rather than  the clamp design.  The incubator is mounted with a Propaq (R), I-Vent ventilator and syringe pumps attached, all charging through one lead like the ICU equipment.  All neonatal transfers are performed by SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit) nurses and Paediatricians as well as an ICU Flight Nurse.

Adult Transfer pack - This is a large roll that consists of 8 bags attached with velcro to a backing.  Once rolled up it is carried like a rucksack.  Once unrolled each bag contains equipment for a specific purpose such as intubation, insertion of central lines, arterial lines, chest drains, catheters and so on.

Paediatric Transfer pack - This is similar in design to the adult roll, but each bag is specific to a particular sized child.  A special measuring tape is provided to quickly measure the child - the resulting measurement relates to a particular coloured bag and every thing in this bag will be the correct size for the resuscitation of that child.

Each child transfered also receives two small soft toys donated by (1) the Smokefree Initiative of Northland Health and (2) ex-ICU patients and their relatives.

Drug Pack - This is a mobile ICU cupboard - small amounts of all major resuscitative drugs are included: - inotropes, anti-arrhythmics, anti-convulsants, narcotics, sedatives, anaesthetic agents, analgesics, stimulants, antibiotics - plus various IV fluid preparations.

Quick access pack - this is the Flight Nurses domain - apart from carrying essentials such as spare lecto-spirals, SpO2 probes, NIBP cuffs and ETCO2 cables - this bag contains a drink of water for the Flight crew, muesli bars and some cash for essentials just in case they are ever in need!  One job often develops into two or three or four without a break and it has been demonstrated several times that we need to carry some refreshments with us for those "just in case" moments!   Once the pilots realised that we came with food, their welcomes became even more friendly!!