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Nightingale Regional Air Ambulance
Requesting Nightingale
To request Nightingale, please call 1-800-572-4354
Dispatch: Nightingale is dispatched by Medical Transport, Inc. in Virginia Beach, Virginia. In addition to dispatching Nightingale, they also dispatch Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters transport team and MTI ground transport teams. If Nightingale is unable to respond due to weather, mechanical, or on another mission, they will assist the requestor by finding other means of transport via air or ground.
Note: Nightingale status can be accessed on the TEMS EMS System.
Scene Requests: When calling for a scene request, be prepared to give the following information; Requestors name and agency, type of incident, location including nearest cross street, call back number, ground contact, and radio frequency.
Interhospital Requests: When calling for an interhospital flight, be prepared to give the following information; Requestors name, hospital, and unit, type of patient, age of patient, patient weight, IV drip medications, call back number, referring MD, accepting MD, and receiving hospital and unit.
Standby Requests: The "stand-by" option was established in an effort to meet the needs of those facilities and agencies that utilize the Nightingale service. In situations when the helicopter might be needed, the helicopter can be put on stand-by for up to 20 minutes. The use of the stand-by does not reserve the helicopter for use by the facility or agency calling. The intent is to give advance warning to the crew of a possible need for air transport. In response, the crew will station themselves at the helipad and make all preparations for flight, short of launching.
If the helicopter is needed, call 1-800-572-4354 to request that the helicopter be officially dispatched. If no further word has been received after 20 minutes, the communication specialist will use the call-back number to check with the facility or agency.
Scene or interfacility requests received while Nightingale is on stand-by will be handled by protocol. In general, scene requests receive priority over interfacility transfer requests. Any time the helicopter must respond on an immediate mission, the stand-by requestor will be notified that the helicopter is no longer available.
Weather: Nightingale is a VFR (Visual Flight Rule) program. There are specific weather minimums that must be met before a mission is accepted. Weather conditions must remain within limits along the entire route of the mission and for the entire anticipated time frame. The pilot uses multiple methods to determine the current forecast.
When weather is a factor, the program will be placed on a weather check either locally (within 25 NM), outside local area (greater than 25 NM), or both. When weather is a concern, Nightingale advises that the requesting agency to call 1-800-572-4354. This allows the pilot to assess the weather and determine if the minimums allow the helicopter to respond.
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