The pilot isn't the only person who needs to know what the shift looks like. Flight nurses and paramedics make decisions about loading, scene safety, patient care in flight and when to speak up. A brief that stops at the cockpit leaves half the crew guessing.
What to cover together
- Fitness for duty: a quick check for everyone, using a model like I.M.S.A.F.E.
- The shift weather and the overall call, with what would change it.
- Aircraft items: MELs, maintenance items, oxygen quantity and anything restocked or missing.
- Roles: seat assignments, launch and loading duties, fueling procedures, scene and landing zone duties.
- Decision-making: how the crew will raise concerns and the program's commitment that anyone can call a stop.
- Logistics: NVG assignments, overnight plans, crew car and communications checks.
- A short safety topic: one focused discussion, rotated through the month.
Make it a two-way conversation
The med crew often knows things the pilot doesn't: a patient-care equipment issue, a difficult receiving facility or a crew member who's running on little sleep. Build in a moment for them to raise anything before the brief is closed.
Keep it short and consistent
A shared checklist keeps the brief to a few minutes and makes it the same at every base. When the checklist is on the same device as the rest of the brief, nothing has to be transcribed later.
BRIEFED includes a med crew brief checklist and safety topic in every brief, and captures each crew member's acknowledgment on the device.