Jason Hunter, MICA Flight Paramedic
Works on helicopters and planes. ‘I enjoy the high end acuity of the patients, the intellectual challenge and the physical challenge. There is a great variety. I do mostly trauma work on the helicopter and more medical work on the fixed-wing.’
Qualified and MICA paramedics seeking a challenge often apply to work as an Air Ambulance paramedic.
In order to work on the Air Ambulance helicopters you must be a MICA flight paramedic. The aeroplanes are staffed by either qualified ambulance paramedics or MICA flight paramedics, with the patient’s condition determining the level of care required.
Air ambulance paramedics are selected from ambulance paramedics who have at least two years experience after qualifying as a paramedic. Applicants must undergo a rigorous selection process covering:
Once staff are selected they undertake extensive training as the nature of the work often has different challenges to those experienced on the ground.
This means Air Ambulance paramedics must be able to not only work alone, but also perform advanced treatments in challenging environments such as on a boat or 10,000 feet in the air.
A unique challenge they experience is considering the impact external air pressure has on patients.
MICA flight paramedics also need to be trained to perform winch rescue services.