In extended extrication scenarios with multiple patients and a distance greater than 20 miles to a trauma center, which transport mode is indicated?

• A. Ground ambulance
• B. Pneumatic ambulance
• C. Air med transport
• D. Private vehicle

Answer: (C)

The situation calls for rapid evacuation to definitive care. When extrication is extended and there are multiple patients, moving them quickly to a trauma center becomes the priority, and distance matters. Air medical transport provides the fastest route to a trauma center over longer distances (more than about 20 miles), helping to shorten total time to definitive treatment while ground crews continue to triage and stabilize patients. Ground ambulances would require multiple vehicles and more on-scene time to cover the same distance, which slows overall care and resource use. Private vehicles are unsafe for transporting seriously injured patients and cannot provide the necessary medical care en route. A pneumatic ambulance is not a standard EMS option in this context. So, air medical transport best fits the need to rapidly deliver multiple injured patients to appropriate care centers.