Bristow Americas transports potential infectious disease patients, to include COVID-19

• Bristow has a well-established Search and Rescue (SAR) and aeromedical evacuation capability for infectious diseases in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana
• Bristow has a fleet of AW139, S-92 and S-76 helicopters specially configured to support oil and gas companies offshore
• Bristow can provide efficient service to safely transport suspected COVID-19 patients; has capability to expand the service where needed

HOUSTON, March 24, 2020 – Bristow Americas’ Search and Rescue (SAR) teams have successfully transported acutely-ill offshore workers in the oil and gas industry with suspected cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), using specially-configured and equipped search and rescue aircraft supporting operations in the Gulf of Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, and Guyana.

The first emergency request for assistance was received on January 29, 2020. To date, Bristow has safely completed 24 successful requests to transport offshore workers and COVID-19 test kits to remote and isolated offshore platforms, drilling rigs and drill ships. Bristow will continue to support emergency medical evacuation requests to transport potentially infectious patients, which may include suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients.

“In the Americas Region, we have always possessed the ability to safely transport potentially infectious patients in our SAR aircraft. Though, the current response is the most comprehensive to date, consisting of a well-coordinated and aligned multiagency and multinational effort,” said Rob Phillips, Senior Vice President for Bristow’s Americas area. “The safety, health, and welfare of our workforce, customers, and the public we support around the world is of the utmost importance to our global organization.”

As with any potentially infectious patient, Bristow strictly adheres to universal and body substance isolation (BSI) precautions, physical barriers, and other specialty equipment within the aeromedical transport environment. The level of potential infection will trigger additional precautions, as applicable, to the patient encounter and follow-on transport. If COVID-19 is suspected, additional resources and authorities are contacted to determine the best course of action. Upon tasking completion, the aircraft is completely disinfected and returned to service.

“We are currently on track to be the first commercial operator in this region to implement portable, negative pressure isolation stretchers, for high-risk transports involving unconsciousness, non-ambulatory, or high-risk infectious disease patients receiving invasive en-route care,” said David Jacob, Deputy Area Manager for the Americas area.

Bristow is closely working in conjunction with their clients, respective medical control authorities, hospitals, state health departments, federal agencies and the ministries of health, port health and other authorities and partners supporting their international rescue operations in the Western Hemisphere.

“Our past, proven success with safely transporting patients with infectious diseases shows that our fleet of specially configured AW139, S-76 and S-92 helicopters, and more importantly, the training of our crews can safely and effectively transport suspected COVID-19 cases without infecting others,” Jacob said. “We are ready to help and have the experience to do it the right way and can expand this service to where needed to help battle COVID-19.”

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About Bristow Group

Bristow is the world’s leading provider of offshore oil and gas transportation, search and rescue (SAR) and aircraft support services to government and civil organizations worldwide. Bristow’s strategically located global fleet supports operations in the North Sea, Nigeria and the U.S. Gulf of Mexico; as well as in most of the other major offshore oil and gas producing regions of the world, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Guyana and Trinidad. Bristow provides SAR services to the private sector worldwide and to the public sector for all of the United Kingdom on behalf of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency. To learn more, visit our website at www.bristowgroup.com.

Bristow Group Inc.
Adam Morgan
Director, Global Communications
+1 281.253.9005
adam.morgan@bristowgroup.com

Ed Memi
Manager, External Communications & Marketing
+1 713.430.7744
edmund.memi@bristowgroup.com

Released March 24, 2020