The Children's Hospital Flight For Life

The Children's Hospital partners with St. Anthony's Hospital, a part of the Centura Health System, and St. Anthony’s Flight For Life team to provide emergency flight transport for the region’s pediatric trauma patients. The Children’s Hospital Flight For Life team is accredited by the International Commission for the Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems and is the only pediatric transport team in the region.

Flight For Life covers a six-state region, including Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota and Wyoming. The program uses helicopters, fixed-wing planes, and has access to a Lear jet for journeys beyond 500 miles. Medical control utilizing standing protocols and radio/telephone communication is provided by the neonatology department, emergency department and pediatric intensive care units at The Children’s Hospital.

Newborn and Young Child Team Flight Nurses

Flight For Life nurses specialize in emergent and critical care management of neonatal and pediatric patients. They are trained extensively in providing assessment, intervention and care of the critically ill or injured patient. Training includes:

• Airway management including rapid sequence intubation and the maintenance of chemical sedation/paralysis
• Mechanical ventilation
• Thoracentesis
• Umbilical lines insertion and management
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
• Blood product administration
• Management of complications at delivery, and complex cardiac, vascular and pulmonary conditions
• Nitric oxide, prostaglandin and surfactant therapy

Newborn and Young Child Respiratory Therapists

Flight For Life respiratory therapists are registered respiratory therapists with specialization in respiratory care and emergency management of pediatric and neonatal patients. They are trained extensively in assessment, management and monitoring of acutely ill or critically injured patients. Duties include provision of respiratory care along with assisting the flight nurse with care and procedures. Care provided by respiratory therapists includes:

• Airway management including endotracheal intubation
• Arterial blood sampling
• Venipuncture
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
• Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP)
• Administration of nitric oxide
• Ventilator management