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• 1. The Pegasus helicopter is an Augusta 109E painted blue and orange, with an image of the mythological winged horse on its side. With cruising speeds of 175 mph, Pegasus provides emergency rescue as far as West Virginia.
• 2. A portable ultrasound machine is used to scan the abdomen and chest for internal injuries. It provides real-time images of internal organs.
• 3. A cardiac monitor provides information about carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the blood, heart rate, respiration and blood pressure. It includes a defibrillator that can restart a heartbeat by sending a shock to the heart. Heart problems are among the most common emergencies the Pegasus medical staff treats.
• 4. A portable video laryngoscope allows medical staff to see into the throat. This makes endotracheal intubation—putting a ventilator tube into the lungs—easier and safer.
• 5. A central line kit is needed for a central venous catheter, which is used to administer medication or fluids to central veins.
• 6. The litter for the patient can be shifted diagonally to accommodate taller patients.
• 7. An infusion pump is used to give patients fluids, medication or nutrients, usually intravenously. It can administer as little as 0.1 mL per hour injections (too small for an IV drip).
• 8. A bag of saline is set up for an intravenous drip. “Almost every patient needs one of these,” says David Grimsley, a paramedic and supervisor of the Pegasus division, “that and ear protection because it’s very loud in the helicopter.”
• 9. A bag of pediatric medical equipment provides the smaller items—IV catheters, for example—that are necessary when treating children.
• 10. An oxygen outlet is connected to a tank of liquid oxygen in the tail of the helicopter that holds up to six liters of liquid oxygen. Liquid oxygen becomes gas when it isn’t under pressure.
• 11. When hooked up to a helmet, a Carter Box allows medical staff to communicate with each other and the pilot over the noise of the helicopter. Helmets are also outfitted with night vision goggles. Bright interior lights would make flying the helicopter difficult, so medical staff work in low-light situations at night.
• 12. Medications from insulin to paralytics to analgesics are packed into bags according to their type for easy access.
• 13. Biohazard disposal is for used needles and other hazardous material.
• 14. A hands-free ventilator controls the volume and rate of respiration as well as the percentage of oxygen in the air.
• 15. These seats are for the medical staff. In addition to the pilot, there is a nurse and a paramedic on every flight.
• 16. The cockpit is full of instruments that allow the pilot to to remain oriented and keep an eye on the weather. Using instruments alone, pilots can fly blind through dense cloud cover.Pegasus is outfitted with nonstandard equipment such as radar, which makes it safer to land on highways and other dangerous places. “We can land in a field or on a road, and we can travel in a straight line, as the crow flies,” says pilot Kim Welliver.