If your loved one needs to be transported by air ambulance to a hospital, you can feel confident that the flight nurses are well-prepared to handle just about any emergency or health condition that may develop while in the aircraft. The air ambulance company staffs highly experienced medical personal that have extensive experience handling all types of health crisis situations both on land and in the air. Here are some interventions that flight nurses can provide if your loved one develops hypotension, or low blood pressure, during the flight. 

Intravenous Electrolyte and Fluid Administration 

If your loved one enters into a hypotensive crisis, then the flight nurse may administer electrolytes such as sodium, and fluids to help raise the blood pressure. The flight nurse will carefully access the vein so that the intravenous catheter can be safely advanced into the blood vessel.

The nurse will also calibrate the drip rate of the fluids so that the patient does not experience fluid overload or hypernatremia, which refers to high levels of sodium in the bloodstream. The flight nurse will also monitor the intravenous site for signs of tissue infiltration such as arm swelling and pain. Tissue infiltration refers to when the fluids from the intravenous fluids infiltrate the soft tissues instead of getting into the vein.

Monitoring Vital Signs and Administering Medications

Other hypotension interventions that air ambulance flight nurses may provide include monitoring vital signs and administering medications to help raise blood pressure. During a hypotensive crisis, vital signs such as pulse rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, and temperature need to be carefully monitored. If the flight nurse determines that one or more of the vital signs are abnormal, he or she will need to further intervene.

The nurse may radio to the emergency department staff physician on the ground if he or she needs clarification regarding which type of medication is best suited to the patient. Treating hypotension promptly and correctly may help reduce the risk for shock or organ failure in the patient who has dangerously low blood pressure. When flight ambulance staff provides timely intervention in the aircraft, the patient is more likely to enjoy a more favorable prognosis once he or she reaches the destination hospital.

To learn more about medical interventions provided by flight nurses, contact an air ambulance company. The representative will answer your questions and talk to your about available transportation options as well as pricing profiles.