MIRF: a close look at an intensive care aeromedical evacuation capability

It is a well-documentedfact that early intervention in the management of severe trauma cases improves recovery rates. Organic to this capability is the need to provide highly mobile medical facilities equipped with appropriate medical technologies. Dedicated medical platforms with onboard integrated medical systems, while desirable in some situations, are expensive and not always readily available in an emergency. Using a proven selection of portable, electromedical monitoring and resuscitation equipment contained in one convenient module, the Mobile Intensive Care Rescue Facility (MIRF) has been designed and developed to improve pre-hospital en route medical care capabilities. Primarily designedforAeromedical Evacuation (AME) in the Australian Defense Force (ADF), the MIRF provides a 'stand-alone' life supportfacility which can 'go anywhere' and attach to almost any platform capable of carrying standard litters