A Tracheal Disruption in an 89-Year-Old Female after a Fall

A crew from a northeastern flight program was activated in early February for a scene call in rural New York for an elderly female patient with multisystem trauma after a fall. The weather was marginal in the area that evening, necessitating an extensive weather check by the pilot to ensure appropriate flying conditions. This evaluation delayed liftoff several minutes. While en route, the flight team received further details concerning the patient. Ground emergency medical services (EMS) reported that her husband found the patient at the bottom of the cellar stairs. He had immediately called 9-1-1 for emergency response.