Working at STAR Flight is both exciting and challenging. Our unique mission profile creates a diverse and exciting environment to work in, but also places many demands and requirements on crews to remain skilled and proficient. Training is a continuous, year-round process for all STAR Flight crewmembers involving more than one hundred hours of training a year.
All of our medical crews are qualified as Helicopter Rescue Specialists (HRS). After several years of demonstrated competence in that capacity, individuals are eligible to become certified as a Crew Chief/Hoist Operator (HOP). STAR Flight Crew Chiefs are required to maintain qualification as both HRS and Crew Chief/HOP.
We are frequently asked, “What does it take to work at a place like STAR Flight?” Below is a partial list of the on-going/yearly requirements to maintain medical/rescue qualification:
- Maintain state & system licensure as Registered Nurse and/or Paramedic
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)
- National level Critical Care Transport certification – CFRN/FP-C/CCEMTP
- Competency training in advanced practice skills such as invasive line monitoring, needle thoracotomies, intraosseous line insertion (adult/pediatric), and administration/monitoring of blood products
- Advanced airway maneuvers (endotracheal intubation, nasotracheal intubation, surgical airway insertion) and Pharmaceutically-assisted intubation (aka. Rapid Sequence Intubation)
- Use of ultrasound device to perform FAST exams
- In-hospital clinical rotations to Intensive Care Unit, Pediatric ICU, Neonatal ICU, Operating Department – Anesthesiology, Special Procedures, Emergency Department, and Cardiac Cath Lab.
Ground Rescue Operations including:
- Patient securing methods (high/low angle environments)
- Search techniques
- Moving/still water rescue
- Basic in-water patient management
Demonstrated competency in following helicopter rescue modalities & skills (day & night):
- Short-haul
- Rescue swimmer water deployment
- Rescue swimmer water skills (search, recovery, patient management)
- In-water use of patient litter
- In-water use of rescue strop
- Ability to safely secure patients from water, trees, and high/low angle slopes
STAR Flight is committed to providing advanced medicine to any patient, anytime, anywhere. This requires an intensive training and education program.