There's always all kinds of stories that people have in this business, and this one isn't anything special, but thought it was interesting as it tangentially relates to the Bryant crash with IMC flight and possible distractions.
Last night we got a call to go to the next county over to pick up a patient. No other information given even after accepting the flight. The weather was 2200/10 at take off and the destination was at least as good if not better. However, the hospital was below company VFR minimums (and overcast), so I knew we would have to IFR in IMC into the hospital. Our scene was not at an airport/heliport, but since the weather was fine, I would have time to pickup my IFR flight plan once we were back up in the air.
On our way to the scene, we were notified that it was a pediatric patient with a dog bite. The med crews have differing opinions on taking a guardian with a child for trauma flights, especially young kids. This patient was in the 4-6 year range. On this flight the crew were all about bringing the parent, but I explained that I was going to busy with the radios and shooting an approach, so the person needed to be calm and I wasn't going to be able to baby-sit like I normally do when I have a rider. The crews totally understood this and I knew they knew how to make a good call.
But it's an interesting scenario where you're being tasked to move a screaming kid while conducting SPIFR and have the potential for a handful of a person up front.
Once on deck, I filed my flight plan, pre-tuned Center, and set up everything to minimize what was needed after take off. As it turned out (and I found out a few minutes after takeoff), the rider was the kid's aunt and not mom. Don't know where mom was, but dad got arrested for hassling EMS at the scene. Obviously the kid has a bright future.
Once I got Auntie buckled in and plugged into the ICS, I explained that she was going to hear a bunch of things coming from the back (as the kid was screaming as I was saying this), but to not worry, they were taking care of him and he was in good hands. I also explained I was going to be pretty busy talking on the radios, so I might not be able to chat with her. To her credit, she was actually very receptive to everything.
Auntie later mentioned once airborne that she wouldn't be as calm as she was if it was her kid. I also had us isolated on the ICS and had her FM radio toggled off so she couldn't hear the report given over the radio. But here we were, halfway to the hospital and I'm going into hard IMC and I'm thinking what would happen if she did flip out while on an approach, IMC. I guess ATC would become my friend really quick as I declare the emergency and ask for the ILS to the local airport at 120 knots.
It's common to talk about combative patients and even an upset rider, but I've never thought it through with an upset rider while IMC/on the approach. Add to that shooting a special use approach that spits you out not near the landing area, and it could get interesting.
At the end of the day (literally, as I was on over time), kid made it safe, IFR in and out of the hospital worked out well, and we even broke out on the RNAV coming back home, which is always a good thing.
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