Medical Air Transport: Not Just for Accidents
An air ambulance saves countless lives by quickly delivering patients to the care they need. Some form of aeromedical transportation has been used by the military since before World War I, but civilians also need this critical service. Modern medical air transport generally consists of specially equipped jets carrying qualified medical staff.
Competent in-flight care for patients increases their chances of survival and recovery from a serious illness or accident. For those who have been critically injured or suffer from a condition that requires immediate specialized care, getting to the right hospital, doctor or surgeon quickly can be a matter of life or death. Just as a traditional ambulance team saves lives by supporting vital functions throughout the trip, the air ambulance staff also employs emergency medical transportation equipment, such as ventilators, oxygen and electrocardiographs for emergency treatment and evaluation.
Remote areas, damaged infrastructure and difficult terrain are not the only circumstances in which air services are needed. In some cases, people might need care or procedures that are simply not available in their area. If a patient needs a lifesaving heart surgery that is the specialty of a surgeon three states away, an air ambulance can get him there in a fraction of the time terrestrial travel would take. A burn victim who needs immediate treatment at a remote trauma unit to survive could make it there on time with the help of a fast jet and effective support measures.
Every run performed by a medically equipped jet is not a life-or-death emergency. Some patients may not be in imminent danger; they simply may not be stable enough to travel a long distance comfortably on the ground. When a long trip by land could be detrimental to an ill person's condition, the family may choose to hire an air ambulance for the trip. In many cases, family members can ride with the patient. Non-emergency medical transportation assistance may be a good option in cases of severe pain or disability, advanced cancer, mobility restrictions, breathing or heart rhythm instability, frequent seizures, severe psychiatric illness and many other conditions.
When medical air transport is voluntary, there are several things to look for when hiring a service. Details concerning amenities and patient comfort are important. The flight should be well-staffed and medically certified. Providers should offer standard bedside-to-bedside care. This means that staff will accompany the patient with their records into the destination facility. This prevents any lapses in care or confusion over paperwork. A smoothly run medical flight provides ailing loved ones the highest level of support and care.
Competent in-flight care for patients increases their chances of survival and recovery from a serious illness or accident. For those who have been critically injured or suffer from a condition that requires immediate specialized care, getting to the right hospital, doctor or surgeon quickly can be a matter of life or death. Just as a traditional ambulance team saves lives by supporting vital functions throughout the trip, the air ambulance staff also employs emergency medical transportation equipment, such as ventilators, oxygen and electrocardiographs for emergency treatment and evaluation.
Remote areas, damaged infrastructure and difficult terrain are not the only circumstances in which air services are needed. In some cases, people might need care or procedures that are simply not available in their area. If a patient needs a lifesaving heart surgery that is the specialty of a surgeon three states away, an air ambulance can get him there in a fraction of the time terrestrial travel would take. A burn victim who needs immediate treatment at a remote trauma unit to survive could make it there on time with the help of a fast jet and effective support measures.
Every run performed by a medically equipped jet is not a life-or-death emergency. Some patients may not be in imminent danger; they simply may not be stable enough to travel a long distance comfortably on the ground. When a long trip by land could be detrimental to an ill person's condition, the family may choose to hire an air ambulance for the trip. In many cases, family members can ride with the patient. Non-emergency medical transportation assistance may be a good option in cases of severe pain or disability, advanced cancer, mobility restrictions, breathing or heart rhythm instability, frequent seizures, severe psychiatric illness and many other conditions.
When medical air transport is voluntary, there are several things to look for when hiring a service. Details concerning amenities and patient comfort are important. The flight should be well-staffed and medically certified. Providers should offer standard bedside-to-bedside care. This means that staff will accompany the patient with their records into the destination facility. This prevents any lapses in care or confusion over paperwork. A smoothly run medical flight provides ailing loved ones the highest level of support and care.
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