ECHO HeliOps (Every Coast Helicopter Operations)

Day 5 of Mental Health Month 💚 Fatigue in EMS isn’t just being tired—it impacts safety, decision-making, and performance. It doesn’t always look obvious. Missed details, slower reactions, and mental fog can creep in when you need to be at your best. Take time to rest when you can. Protect your sleep—it matters. You’re not alone. We’re here—24/7. #MentalHealthMonth #ECHOFast

Day 3 of Mental Health Month 💚 Resilience isn’t about never falling—it’s about rising every time you do. Take a moment today to reflect, reset, and move forward. The small wins, the lessons learned, and the support you lean on all build strength. You’re stronger than you think. And you don’t have to do it alone. We’re here—24/7. #MentalHealthMonth #Resilience #ECHOFast

ECHO Philadelphia Speaker Highlight! — 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 Presented by: Bobby O’Donnell, Critical Care Flight Paramedic, Boston MedFlight This presentation focuses on how human factors influence decision-making and can lead to errors in clinical medicine and backcountry expeditions. It outlines four heuristic traps that we unknowingly fall victim to at work and in the outdoors. Familiarity Heuristic “Relies on our past actions to guide our behavior in familiar settings.” “When the hazard changes, but the setting remains familiar.” Commitment and Consistency Heuristic “When our desire to be consistent overrules critical new information about an impending hazard.” Acceptance Heuristic “We have a tendency to engage in activities that we think will get us noted by people we like or respect, or by people we want to like or respect us.” Expert Halo Heuristic “When an informal leader who, for various reasons, ends up making critical decisions for the party.” — Join us in Philadelphia, September 20–23, 2026! Register today—early bird pricing ends May 15, 2026. https://lnkd.in/gqiqAts6

Day 1 of Mental Health Month 💚 A new month. A fresh start. You matter. This month is a reminder to check in—on yourself and on each other. A quick message, a conversation, or simply taking a moment to breathe can make a difference. You don’t have to do it alone. We’re here—24/7. #MentalHealthMonth #YouMatter #ECHOFast

ECHO Philadelphia Speaker Highlight! — 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫-𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐧-𝐇𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐂𝐏𝐑 Presented by: Alexander Wilcox, Flight Paramedic, Life Link III mECMO Educator, University of Minnesota Kevin Rixmann, Flight Nurse, Life Link III mECMO Clinical Supervisor, University of Minnesota This presentation describes the development and implementation of a helicopter-facilitated pathway for rapid transport of refractory cardiac arrest patients to a high-volume ECMO center for in-hospital Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (ECPR). The FLIGHT model (Facilitated In-hospital ECPR via Helicopter Transport) was designed to extend advanced resuscitative capability beyond metropolitan boundaries by integrating rotor-wing transport into an established regional cardiac arrest system of care. — Join us in Philadelphia, September 20–23, 2026! Register today—early bird pricing ends May 15, 2026.

🐾 Happy National Therapy Animal Day! 🐾 Today, we’re recognizing the incredible impact of therapy animals and the role they play in supporting the public safety aviation community. Our FAST peer support team is proud to have three dedicated therapy dogs serving alongside our volunteers: Pierre, Jolene, and Maddi Mae. These dogs aren’t just companions—they’re trained, certified, and mission-ready members of the team. Like our flight crews, their training never stops. Ongoing education and certification renewals ensure they’re always prepared to provide comfort and support when it’s needed most. Whether responding after critical incidents or connecting with crews at events, these dogs bring a level of support that words simply can’t replace. 💙 Thank you to Pierre, Jolene, Maddi Mae—and their incredible human handlers—for the compassion and commitment you bring to this mission every day. 🎉 And a special thank you to Creature Comfort Pet Therapy and the Alliance of Therapy Dogs for providing the certification and support that make this work possible. #NationalTherapyAnimalDay #TherapyDogs #PeerSupport #ResponderWellness #FlightCrewSupport #ECHOFAST

ECHO Philadelphia Speaker Highlight! — 𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐔 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬: 𝐀 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜-𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐅𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 Presented by: James Boomhower, CCTS-P, Boston MedFlight Founder, Stay Fit 4 Duty Board-certified Neonatal and Pediatric Transport Provider and Critical Care Transport Specialist–Paramedic James Boomhower breaks down NICU transports into a clear, paramedic-friendly framework built on more than 20 years in EMS and dedicated neonatal and pediatric transport experience. Using real-world examples, this session walks providers through pre-transport preparation with the NICU team, practical neonatal assessment, thermoregulation and glucose management, airway and ventilation pearls, safe positioning and restraint, and how to anticipate problems before they happen. Emphasis is placed on what street and transport paramedics actually need to know—not to be NICU nurses, but to be reliable partners who can safely extend intensive care from isolette to receiving unit. — Join us in Philadelphia, September 20–23, 2026! Register today—early bird pricing ends May 15, 2026.

This week’s Chernobyl disaster anniversary is a good time to renew awareness of lessons learned. The April ECHO Safety Brief is focused on one contributing factor, normalization of deviance. Safety brief challenge for your next shift: 1) Each crew member highlights an example where drift, or full normalization of deviance, is occurring your organization ➡️ What is the standard versus what is actually occurring?… 2) Each individual then explains at least one concrete action, based in the prevention strategies, they personally are committing to execute 🗣 I will… 3) The first two items establish clear expectations. Step three is the opportunity for crew to invite accountability checks from their peers! 🫡 I need you to… #PublicSafetyAviation #TrainingTuesday #aviationsafety #forflightcrewsbyflightcrews #ECHOsafety

ECHO Philadelphia Speaker Highlight! — 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐃𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐖𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐆 – 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐕 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞 Presented by: Jacob Miller, Flight Nurse, UC Health Air Care & Mobile Care We all know how to manage a crashing patient. But what if the next thing you're supposed to do will cause more harm than good? Patients in acute right heart failure present unique challenges to the resuscitationist and often require specific therapies to prevent further deterioration. This presentation will cover resuscitation strategies for patients in acute RV failure and contrast them with the “usual care” of patients without RV pathology. — Join us in Philadelphia, September 20–23, 2026! Register today—early bird pricing ends May 15, 2026. https://lnkd.in/gqiqAts6

Today, on World Pilots' Day, we recognize the men and women who take to the skies with skill, precision, and an unwavering commitment to others. At ECHO, we’re especially proud to recognize the pilots within our volunteer team—those who serve in their programs, organizations, agencies, and military branches, and also give their time to support the ECHO mission. From sharing real-world experience to supporting safety initiatives—your impact reaches far beyond the cockpit. Thank you for your leadership, your professionalism, and your dedication to this community. FOR FLIGHT CREWS. BY FLIGHT CREWS. #WorldPilotDay #ECHOHeliOps #PublicSafetyAviation #FlightCrew