WENDY Woolsey, staff member for Moneyfacts, recently celebrated her 60th birthday but instead of asking for presents, she asked all of her guests to donate money to the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
As a way of saying thank you for airlifting him to hospital on Finals Day at Silverstone back in October, Mike Jordan is to support the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance during the 2007 Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship.
Jordan will carry stickers for the air ambulance on his Honda Integra throughout the season in an arrangement unveiled at the annual media day at Rockingham - when the air ambulance flew in to give Jordan the chance to meet up with the crew who had carried him to hospital after his high-speed Silverstone shunt. "They operate on all external money and they don't get any government funding," Jordan said. "We're just trying to give them a little bit of help. It's a good way for us to say thank you.
WASHINGTON -- A recent spate of nighttime crashes by medevac helicopters has renewed calls for widespread use of an industry-desired safety feature: goggles that allow pilots to see at night.
Nineteen people have died in medevac helicopter crashes since Dec. 30, putting this year on pace to be the deadliest in the industry's history. Four of the five fatal crashes -- which caused 13 of the 19 deaths -- happened when helicopters crashed in remote, nighttime conditions. None of the pilots was using night-vision goggles, according to federal accident data.
Nineteen people have died in medevac helicopter crashes since Dec. 30, putting this year on pace to be the deadliest in the industry's history. Four of the five fatal crashes -- which caused 13 of the 19 deaths -- happened when helicopters crashed in remote, nighttime conditions. None of the pilots was using night-vision goggles, according to federal accident data.
Any air-ambulance company that wants to use goggles on one of its helicopters must get approval from the Federal Aviation Administration. However, the agency has a shortage of trained inspectors, so the approval process can take months, according to industry officials, pilots and government inspectors. Some companies have dozens of helicopters and the FAA must grant approval for goggle use ...
The Federal Aviation Administration is asking air
ambulance companies to adopt better safety practices to curb a deadly surge in rescue helicopter crashes that have killed 60 people since 2000.
An FAA notice being sent starting this month to all of the nation's air ambulance companies urges -- but does not require -- the companies to set up safety programs that would help pilots decide whether or not to lift off in risky conditions.
The notice aims to halt fatal mistakes that have beset the industry, such as pilots flying into the ground during ill-advised rescue missions or dispatchers sending out inexperienced crews in darkness and bad weather.
"Inadequate risk assessment and management deficiencies may have contributed to many recent fatal accidents," the notice says.
A USA TODAY investigation July 18-19 found that 84 air ambulances have crashed since 2000, more than double the number of crashes during the previous ...
Fans of the Top Gearpre-senter Richard Hammond have raised pounds 140,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Hammond, who was airlifted to hospital after his 300mph crash last week, was said to "doing well" at Leeds General Infirmary.
When you are weighing the difference between the cost and insurance coverage for air ambulances things may not seem as out of proportion as it looks at first glance. There are many other things to take into consideration besides the difference between the cost of air ambulances and the amount the insurance company covers for this irreplaceable service.Some of the major things to take into consideration when you are looking at the difference in cost versus insurance for air ambulance include hidden costs, security, and safety.There are so many hidden costs involved in not having reliable emergency service available for you or your workers. The most expensive hidden costs that you may have if you don't have reliable service can include legal fees, insurance claims, law suits, and early pension payments made to injured workers. There are also hidden savings to be had by hiring the services of an air ambulance company
By having air ambulance companies on retainer you will have a lower insurance premium that will help balance the cost of hiring one of these firms. Security is a huge issue for the majority of people and they want to feel safe no matter where they are and an air ambulance company can help increase the general security of people. Having this type of service available will help you attract the best suited employees for your work place. People also tend to be more productive when they don't have security issues nagging at the back of their minds. By providing the security found in an air ambulance company you will significantly increase production and reduce your cost of insurance payments.
Safety in the workplace has been a rising public issue lately and companies that take measures to help prevent injuries among their employees are looked at more favorably than companies that don't. Having an air ambulance company on retainer can help show your commitment to your workers safety and can also help protect you and your company against legal action from your employees in the case of an injury.
By spending this small amount of money upfront to hire the services of a reputable air ambulance company you will protect your employees, protect yourself, improve your company image, and reduce the costs of insurance. With all of these benefits available the small cost of hiring an air ambulance company is minimal compared to the expenses you could face by not having their services. Learn more at Air Ambulance Facts.
Getting a qualified air ambulance company is of extreme importance and you need to do your research before you choose which service provider will be taking care of your safety in emergencies. The difference in service and professionalism that you can receive between the different air ambulance companies is significant and in some cases can be the difference between life and death. According to Air Ambulance Facts the three most important things you need to consider when you are hiring an air ambulance company is quality of service, cost, and standards.
The quality of service that you receive from an air ambulance company should be one of the main factors that you consider when you are choosing the right company for you. The best way to get a feeling for the quality of the services provided by any air ambulance company is to ask for references from previous clients.
By talking to past clients you can find out how quick, professional, and efficient the air ambulance company you are considering hiring is. Cost is another factor that needs to be addressed when you are deciding to hire an air ambulance company. Depending on your insurance company it is possible that they will either cover a percentage or if you have a high quality insurance provider it is also possible that they may cover the entire cost of an air ambulance service.
By talking to past clients you can find out how quick, professional, and efficient the air ambulance company you are considering hiring is. Cost is another factor that needs to be addressed when you are deciding to hire an air ambulance company. Depending on your insurance company it is possible that they will either cover a percentage or if you have a high quality insurance provider it is also possible that they may cover the entire cost of an air ambulance service.
You should avoid hiring based solely on price because as with anything else you get what you pay for and this includes air ambulance services. When you are hiring an air ambulance company you should make sure that you are dealing directly with the air ambulance company and not a broker as they will usually hire the cheapest service so that they may make more off of their fee.Standards of air ambulance companies are very varied and you need to ensure that the company that you hire has high standards in all areas of the business.
You should ensure that the medical staff on board of the air ambulance is of the highest quality, that they have a qualified pilot, and that the aircraft they are using is suitable to your needs and that it is capable of traveling in any weather conditions.
You should ensure that the medical staff on board of the air ambulance is of the highest quality, that they have a qualified pilot, and that the aircraft they are using is suitable to your needs and that it is capable of traveling in any weather conditions.
You should ask questions about their air craft, what types of medical professionals they have on staff and what their credentials are. These types of questions can help you prevent costly mistakes by hiring a air ambulance company that isn't qualified.
There are so many important factors to take into consideration when a company is evaluating their needs for an air ambulance. The air ambulance is a life saving measure that can mean the difference between life and death in many situations. Some of the things you need to take into consideration when you are evaluating your needs for an air ambulance include the cost of air ambulance, location, and the quality of service that you receive from your local emergency providers.The costs of having air ambulance service are a major consideration when you are evaluating your needs for an air ambulance, according to Air Ambulance Facts. While retaining the services of an air ambulance can be a significant cost to a company it also helps you save money in other ways. By having an air ambulance company at your service will drastically lower your insurance premiums because your workers will have a greater threshold of safety than they otherwise would.
Having an air ambulance company at your service can also help prevent deaths in your workplace which will lower your insurance premiums and will also help you avoid lawsuits and insurance claims.Location is another important factor to take into consideration when you are evaluating your needs for an air ambulance company.
If you are in a location that is very remote or that regular emergency personal would have difficulty reaching you quickly it becomes very important that you have an air ambulance company at your disposal.
When an injury has occurred speed is of the essence and if you live a great distance from the nearest regular emergency services having access to an air ambulance company and their swift service can often help prevent death and serious injury. The quality of service that you receive from your regular emergency staff also plays a large role in whether or not you will require the services of an air ambulance company and you need to take this into consideration when you are evaluating your needs for an air ambulance company.
If the local emergency providers are often slow in reaching your location or otherwise do not meet the standards you have for medical emergency service than you should consider an air ambulance service as a substitute.When you do choose an air ambulance company you should speak with some of their past clients to ensure that you are getting the best quality service for you.
An ambulance is a vehicle which transports sick or injured people to places of treatment for illness or injury. There are several types of ambulances: land-based motor vehicles, such as trucks, vans, station wagons, buses; air ambulances, such as helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft; boats and hospital ships.Air ambulance service specializes in air medical transportation. Long-distance medical transportation includes services of physicians, paramedics and nurses. Airplanes, fully equipped as intensive care units, provide emergency medical service and international medical care, transferring the patient from one country to another. An air ambulance is used for emergency medical assistance, where a traditional ambulance cannot easily or quickly reach the patient. In air ambulance service, helicopters are used as ambulances. Usually used for emergency care in places inaccessible by road, they are able to travel significantly faster than a road ambulance Air ambulance specialists are trained medical team with flying experience; in critical situations, when every minute counts, medically equipped air ambulance becomes the most important factor in saving humans’ life. Continuous medical intensive care during flight enables the physicians to maintain the patients’ life until he reaches hospital for continuing medical service.
Medical services provided in air ambulance include continuous patient monitoring including EKG, non-invasive blood pressure, pulse oximetry and capnography. Specially trained people in equipped facilities help to rescue the patients’ life.The need for emergency medical services is especially important in distant areas, where there is no immediate access to hospitals. Among international medical services, air ambulance service proves to be one of the most important factors, demonstrating the ability to respond quickly to the patients needs and provide the necessary medical care
There are many stories out there about the dangers of flying in an air ambulance but these stories are so infrequent and the chance of being harmed while flying in an air ambulance is very minimal. However these types of media friendly stories often bury the true live saving stories of air ambulance in action. These true stories help give a person a perspective on the true value of air ambulances and the services that they provide. Some of the most popular air ambulance rescues include Sammie Newlon, Ben Bryer, and Trevor Pierce. They told their stories to Air Ambulance Facts.Sammie Newlon was a new born baby who despite a perfectly normal birth was having difficulty feeding and refused to feed for several days.
The family doctor of the Newlon family told the parents of baby Sammie that there wasn't anything to worry about. The doctor then prescribed a broad spectrum medial antibiotic for Sammie that he thought would cure the problem.
However Sammie worsened over the next twenty four hours and by the time his parents called 911 Sammie was barely breathing. An air ambulance was dispatched and picked the family up within minutes and delivered him safely to the hospital. Without the service of an air ambulance it is unlikely that baby Sammie would have survived to reach the hospital.Ben Bryer was an eighteen year old youth who was critically injured while out riding his bicycle one day in Colchester.
In his accident Ben Dryer had several fractures; many puncture wounds, a critical head injury, and had lost a significant amount of blood. Ben ended up in a coma for over nine days and without the quick medical treatment he received by having an air ambulance delivery him to the emergency room within a half hour it is likely that Ben would have never woken up. Trevor Pierce was twenty two years old when he fell from roof top when he was hanging up Christmas lights and his ladder gave way beneath him.
Trevor's injuries were very severe and paramedics were concerned about moving him by land as there was a great concern over spinal injuries and they didn�t want to worsen the situation. In the end an air ambulance was sent for and delivered Trevor to the hospital much quicker than the half an hour land journey would have been.
This very attractive Kramme and Zeuthe KZ IV twin-engine transport-plane model was designed and built by Mike Trew of Trowbridge in Wiltshire, England. Only two full-size examples of the KZ IV were built by the Danish. In 1944, German occupying forces gave Denmark permission to build the first as an air ambulance. OY-D IZ was nicknamed "Folke Bernadette" after the Swedish peace negotiator who used it as a courier plane in 1945 when he flew to Germany to negotiate the release of Danish and Norwegian prisoners from concentration camps. Besides being a great-looking competition subject, the KZ IV also has quite an important piece of Danish WW II history attached to it.
The 1/5-scale model has a 126-inch wingspan and weighs about 26.5 pounds. It is fitted with two Laser .80 4-stroke engines that provide more than enough power. Futaba radio gear is used throughout, and Mike included a fully detailed cockpit and cabin interior and a neat, working, rear entry door that reveals a fully carpeted cargo area complete with a scale head liner. Built using traditional methods of balsa and ply over ribs and formers, the KZ IV has a silk-over-tissue finish that Mike sprayed with enamel paint. Mike also made all of the scale plugs and moldings for the engine cowls and the landing-gear fairings himself.
A member of the Boscombe Down Club, Mike took a year to build the plane and had only six flights with it before he entered it in the British National F4C Scale Competition, in which he placed seventh. He earned the third highest static score and missed second place by only ½ point-not bad for a first outing. Mike says that the plane is quite straightforward to fly and that it lands slowly because of its very effective flaps.
An air ambulance service based at the Charlotte County (FL) Airport has been shut down by federal officials for alleged air safety violations.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on May 23 suspend Air Trek's operating license. According to the FAA's emergency order of suspension, the company: failed to abide by guidelines regulating aircraft weight and balance; allowed unqualified pilots to command international flights; allowed pilots to fly after they failed required competency/proficiency checks; did not provide pilots adequate rest time; did not maintain equipment and records as required by airworthiness directives; did not perform timely inspections; and, lacks sufficient qualified management and technical personnel to ensure the safety of its operations.
A company spokesman said the firm had not kept proper records, but followed federal safety guidelines and fixed "clerical" errors that prompted the suspension, according to a local press report.
The firm is working with federal officials to lift the suspension and has filed an appeal with the National Transportation Safety Board. No hearing date has been set, according to an FAA spokeswoman.
Air Trek transports sick or injured people between clinics and hospitals both in and out of the United States, using seven Cessna aircraft, including four Cessna 500s, and a Westwind 1124A.
The FAA noted that three Air Trek aircraft crashed over the past three years, with one resulting in six fatalities.
The suspension order resulted from an extensive FAA inspection of the EMS provider in early May
Air Trek, an air ambulance company based at the Charlotte County (FL) Airport, had its operating license revoked by the Federal Aviation Administration on June 10. The FAA action comes less than a month after the federal agency suspended Air Trek's carrier's license on May 23
Further inspections, which turned up more serious problems than those cited previously, led the FAA to revoke Air Trek's license. "Our findings as a part of that investigation indicated that revocation was in order as opposed to the suspension," said Kathleen Bergen, a spokeswoman for the FAA's southern region.
Further inspections, which turned up more serious problems than those cited previously, led the FAA to revoke Air Trek's license. "Our findings as a part of that investigation indicated that revocation was in order as opposed to the suspension," said Kathleen Bergen, a spokeswoman for the FAA's southern region.
The FAA's emergency revocation letter cited 14 air traffic safety regulation violations, including flying aircraft that had not been deemed safe, failure to follow weight guidelines, deceptively recording maintenance shortfalls, allowing pilots to make international flights without proper training or certification, and letting pilots fly after they had failed required tests.
"Air Trek's systemic noncompliance with regulatory requirements is unacceptable and a danger to the flying public," the FAA's letter said.
Air Trek saw its operating license suspended in May for alleged air safety violations.
According to the FAA's emergency order of suspension, the company: failed to abide by guidelines regulating aircraft weight and balance; allowed unqualified pilots to command international flights; allowed pilots to fly after they failed required competency/proficiency checks; did not provide pilots adequate rest time; did not maintain equipment and records as required by airworthiness directives; did not perform timely inspections; and, lacks sufficient qualified management and technical personnel to ensure the safety of its operations
A company spokesman said the firm had not kept proper records, but followed federal safety guidelines and fixed "clerical" errors that prompted the suspension, according to a local press report.
Air Trek transports sick or injured people between clinics and hospitals both in and out of the United States, using seven Cessna aircraft, including four Cessna 500s, and a Westwind 1124A.
The FAA noted that three Air Trek aircraft crashed over the past three years, with one resulting in six fatalities.
The suspension order resulted from an FAA inspection of the EMS provider in early May.
Air Trek has appealed the FAA's action to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and will go before an administrative law judge in July
Flying In An Air Ambulance Is Oftentimes A Life Or Death Decision
0 comments Posted by THE KEY at 09:42
Air ambulance services have saved the lives of countless individuals since the first such flight took place back in 1928. Today, government institutions, private enterprises and everyday people just like you rely on the speed and expertise that only the air ambulance system can provide.When life is in peril, and transportation via other modes simply won’t be adequate, it’s good to know that there is an air ambulance company standing by, ready to save lives. You’ve probably heard stories about accident victims being transported by helicopter or by aircraft to trauma centers. You many have even seen this type of transportation in action. In this type of situation, emotions run high and professionals are needed – stat!
ambulances rise above it all
When an air ambulance gets called to the accident scene, it means the individual has sustained significant injuries, and most often, those injuries are life-threatening. When that’s the case, the patient has no time to wait while a ground ambulance makes its way across town, darting in and out of traffic all along the journey towards help.
In order to make a difference in a patient’s predicament, an air ambulance needs to have onboard the right equipment to effectively deal with the patient’s particular injuries. That’s a tall order, yet it’s one that most always works to the patient’s benefit. Ensuring that the right air ambulance arrives on the scene literally can make the difference between life and death.
Air ambulance environments present unique challenges
Depending on the circumstances, the patient may be transported on a jet, flying as high as a commercial airliner. Therefore, the transfer from ground to air entails a whole new transfer of responsibility. Once onboard an air ambulance, the patient will need to be stabilized and the environment will need to be prepared for flight. That’s why it’s important for the medical staff onboard to have additional medical training. They need to be prepared to deal with the types of changes that may result in flight such as the change in air pressure, humidity, gravity, oxygen levels and turbulence.
Here are a few examples of changes a patient might experience onboard. The lower humidity inside the aircraft cabin might prevent the free flow of pulmonary secretions which may lead to plugging up the airways. An eye injury might require a patient’s head to be raised and/or immobilized and might also require a change in cabin pressure. Head injury patients likewise will need their heads elevated. Aircraft transporting patients being administered 100% oxygen need to fly at lower than normal altitudes.
Already emotionally distraught, what can complicate matters the most while on an air ambulance is a patient’s fear of flying. Being forced onto a plane, even in a life-or-death situation, can dramatically alter a patient’s vital signs even more that they may already be altered, making it more important than ever for air ambulance medical staff to know what they’re doing.
Whenever there’s a need for an air ambulance, people tend to concern themselves with the pilot. They want to make sure that the air ambulance pilot has the training and the background necessary to safely get the patient from Point A to Point B. Their concerns are legitimate, and surely without a capable person at the ready, patients could be in even more danger than they already are.Air ambulance pilots need specialized training since the conditions onboard aren’t always as controlled as they are on commercial flights. For example, air ambulance pilots often don’t get to touch down on landing strips and during each flight they need to carefully monitor the altitude so that the patient’s care isn’t compromised.
But an air ambulance mission involves more than the pilot. Here’s a listing of the other key players in this important business along with a brief description of the responsibilities of each.
Medical Director
person is responsible for managing and supervising the care that patients are given throughout an air ambulance mission. The medical director participates in pre-flight medical consulting, approves the medical team and standing medical orders, maintains quality, develops policies and procedures, and much more. It too is an important role and the success or failure of each mission can depend upon how well the Medical Director does the job.
Medical Team
medical team includes those specially-trained individuals who will accompany the patient during air ambulance transportation. Remember, patients often travel via helicopter or small aircraft and after allowing for the necessary medical equipment, there isn’t much room left over. That’s why the medical team onboard an air ambulance typically doesn’t consist of more than two paramedics. Again, depending on a patient’s needs, a registered nurse, a physician, a pediatrician or other medical specialist may also be onboard.
The basic responsibilities of the air ambulance medical team are to continually monitor the patient’s vital statistics and administer medication as necessary. For those trips that require a stop for fuel, the medical team will remain onboard with the patient. In some instances, the medical team will need to accompany the patient during ground transportation to the intended medical facility.
Flight Coordinators
Air ambulance transportation flight coordinators work out the many details involved with air ambulance service. This is the person who will make contact with the patient’s medical insurance provider to find out whether a trip in an air ambulance is covered by the insurance, and if so, the percentage that is covered. Flight coordinators process related paperwork to and from the insurer so patients or their relatives don’t have to be bothered with this task.
Besides the huge task of dealing with insurance, air ambulance flight coordinators allocate and notify the crew, select the appropriate aircraft, and arrange ground transportation to the departing location and also upon arrival at the destination.
The above is meant only as a general guideline. Since every air ambulance mission is different, the composition of the crew can also be different.
When Time Is Of Essence Consider Transporting Via Air Ambulance
0 comments Posted by THE KEY at 09:33
An air ambulance is just that. It’s a fully-equipped ambulance that flies rather than drives. It’s a highly efficient mode of transportation when an injured or ill individual needs to be relocated to another facility in order to receive ongoing or specialized treatment. Here’s a bit of information to know should you or someone you love ever need an air ambulance.needs an air ambulance?
Just about anybody may need the services of an air ambulance at some point in life. Most often, air ambulance charter planes are requested in order to assist older individuals who need immediate medical services while traveling outside their home country.
Depending on the type of care needed or the extent of the individual’s medical needs, it may not be possible to transport that individual back home via a commercial airline. In fact, because of liability issues, some airline companies won’t even take that type of risk and therefore, an air ambulance becomes the only choice.
Others rely on air ambulance services for transporting their loved ones to medical facilities that specialize in certain types of care or so that their loved ones can be treated by medical professionals considered the best in their field. In these types of situations the person being transported can be any age, even an infant.
The reasons for seeking the services of an air ambulance charter are many. Just as it’s not easy to predict when someone will be involved in an accident or become afflicted with an illness, neither is it possible to determine whether you or someone you know might one day need air ambulance service. That’s why it’s just nice to know that such a service exists.
Air ambulance specifics
When you’re looking to charter an air ambulance, you’ll find a range of sizes. The type and size of aircraft you choose will depend on your needs and that of the patient. How quickly a patient needs to travel is also an important factor in the decision. From Gulfstream aircraft capable of carrying a dozen or more passengers, to smaller-sized Cessnas capable of transporting five or fewer total passengers, there’s sure to be an air ambulance that will get you where you need to be, when you need to be there.
Onboard the air ambulance, you can expect to find state-of-the-art medical equipment and fully-trained medical and aircraft personnel. Paramedics and flight nurses rather than surgeons generally provide medical monitoring and attention while en route.
An air ambulance will have onboard basic life support equipment including intubation kits, stretchers, heart monitoring equipment, oxygen and oxygen-related gear, blood pressure cuffs, blankets, defibrillators, and more.
Don’t worry if all this is beginning to sound overwhelming. Should you ever require the services of an air ambulance, you’ll have enough on your mind already. So be sure to find an air ambulance charter company that has on staff a medical transportation coordinator who can make the flight, facility, and general transportation arrangements for you.
Air ambulance transportation literally can mean the difference between life and death. It may be your life or the life of a loved one or the life of someone you haven’t even met.
Regardless of who that person is, when someone is involved in a life-threatening situation, it is good to know that there is a way to get that person the help he or she needs quickly. That, really, is what air transportation is all about.
Regardless of who that person is, when someone is involved in a life-threatening situation, it is good to know that there is a way to get that person the help he or she needs quickly. That, really, is what air transportation is all about.
There are many different scenarios under which you or someone you know might need the services that only an air ambulance company can provide. Here are several of the more common ones.
Land-based accidents
often when we think of air ambulance service, we think mainly of the highway accidents that involve automobiles and other types of vehicles. Perhaps the reason for this is because such a scenario is what we usually see – either on television or in real life – on those rare occasions when an air ambulance is needed. But an air ambulance can be called to the scene whenever such transportation is necessary regardless of what’s involved. All the air ambulance needs is a large enough area nearby that it can use for a safe landing.
So although it might be rarer, an air ambulance could be called to the scene when a home is on fire, or when there has been an explosion in a building, or even when an emergency medical situation has developed at a community or professional sports arena.
to a better equipped facility
The other time we most often think of an air ambulance is when we hear of a situation in which a patient cannot be effectively treated at the medical facility to which he or she was taken. Air transportation can get the patient to another facility that has either the right equipment or a far more qualified team of specialists or perhaps even both. Since this type of air transportation is typically scheduled, the chosen air ambulance will be outfitted with the equipment necessary to keep the patient comfortable until the more advanced care can be administered.
The other time we most often think of an air ambulance is when we hear of a situation in which a patient cannot be effectively treated at the medical facility to which he or she was taken. Air transportation can get the patient to another facility that has either the right equipment or a far more qualified team of specialists or perhaps even both. Since this type of air transportation is typically scheduled, the chosen air ambulance will be outfitted with the equipment necessary to keep the patient comfortable until the more advanced care can be administered.
In times of natural disaster
Air ambulance transportation has even saved many lives during natural disasters. Times of severe flooding caused by torrential rains, tornadoes and even hurricanes can close off roads and highways and strand those who are injured and sick. With no way to reach these individuals, it’s often necessary to call in the services of an air ambulance. An air ambulance can then rescue those individuals so that they can immediately begin receiving medical attention.
There are other times when an air ambulance makes sense, too. Basically this type of transportation is best whenever a situation involves the need for immediate care, or the patient must travel a long distance in order to receive proper medical treatment, or when roads and highways are inaccessible, and even when congestion on the highway will cause the patient undue delays in receiving the treatment he or she needs to stay alive.
If you’re planning a trip to a foreign destination, you better add researching air ambulance service onto your list of things to do.This might seem like an odd task at first, but after reading this article, you’ll understand why advance planning for air ambulance service makes sense.
Few consider need for an air ambulance
Preparing for the worst is by far the most important reason to research air ambulance or medevac service.
People heading off for vacation don’t usually consider the possibilities of becoming injured or ill while on vacation. But in fact, this happens all the time and it happens in developed countries as well as those considered underdeveloped.
Suppose you’re having a wonderful time out on a Caribbean island, frolicking in the sunshine when something terrible happens. You’ve slipped and severely injured your head while photographing a pristine waterfall or your breathing apparatus malfunctions while you are scuba diving or some other terrible or life-threatening injury occurs.
Chances are good that you’re not going to want to receive your medical treatment at the local medical facility where the equipment, while functional, has not been updated since World War II and the staff at the facility cannot speak your language.
Incidents can happen at sea, too. You’ve likely heard stories of cruise ships having to cut their journeys short because there’s been an outbreak of gastrointestinal virus on board. Those with severe cases may not be able to wait until the cruise ship returns to port. They need to be transported via air ambulance to the nearest well-equipped medical facility as soon as such transportation can be arranged.
If you’re traveling abroad and you end up needing an air ambulance charter company, it’s quite possible that this type of service is going to cost tens of thousands of dollars. It’s true! If your condition is such that you cannot travel via commercial airplane, it’s likely you are going to need a fully-equipped air ambulance, complete with medical equipment and trained medical professionals, to get you to the nearest medical facility capable of dealing with your type of injuries or illness.
Travel insurance with air ambulance service
If you’re not considering travel insurance because there’s no chance you are going to miss your trip, then you aren’t fully realizing all that travel insurance has to offer. It will protect you against a cancelled trip, whether you cause the cancellation or something or someone else does.
But travel health insurance is what’s going to protect you if you need medical attention while on your trip, or you need air ambulance service to transport you back home fast (or at least to the nearest “Western” medical facility).
If you are older with pre-existing medical conditions, you definitely should consider advance planning for an air ambulance. Depending on your condition, it could take only moments for your health to take a turn for the worst. Planning for an air ambulance makes sense if for no other reason than to provide you with peace of mind.
Placing someone onboard an air ambulance is a big decision and it’s a decision that needs to be made carefully. If a person needs to be transported via air ambulance, it usually means the patient’s health is already compromised in some manner. If at all possible, you want to ensure that the trip up in the air won’t aggravate that individual’s condition any further.Is there any way to guarantee a smooth flight onboard an air ambulance? There are no guarantees in life however a bit of research can increase the chances. Here are a few tips that may help when you need to arrange an air ambulance.
Know what to ask for
The term medevac, or medical evacuation, is often used interchangeably with the term air ambulance. While correct, the trouble with using the term medevac is that it is vague; the term doesn’t specify the actual type of transportation that will be used. Medevac can imply other modes of medical transportation including medical evacuation via ground. If you’re looking for medical transportation by air, always use the term air ambulance.
Know how the price is being quoted
Cost doesn’t usually become an issue until later on when the bill arrives. When you’re caught up in the moment, you want your loved one transported and that’s all that really matters. To avoid being surprised (not to mention stunned) by the cost of the air ambulance, make sure that in addition to mileage, the prices you are quoted include the flight crew, landing and other fees, applicable taxes, medical expenses including use of onboard medical equipment, medical staff, and all medical consultations, and ground transportation (the costs of getting the patient from the landing field to the intended medical facility).
Check air ambulance safety
So many people assume that just because a company offers air ambulance service it has a solid track record for safety. This is absolutely not a safe assumption! Few regulatory requirements exist for an air ambulance company which means that just about anyone can hang a sign and open the doors for business. It’s not hard to use the Internet to check on an air ambulance company’s safety record. Never make a choice of this magnitude with first checking into the history of the air ambulance company.
Choose the right-sized aircraft
Which type of aircraft is going to be best – helicopter, propeller plane, or jet liner? Selecting the right air ambulance depends on the specifics. For example, how far does the patient need to be transported? How many passengers need to accompany the patient (including medical and flight staff), what type of medical equipment and supplies need to accompany the patient? These are the types of issues that help determine what’s going to get the patient to his destination not only quickly, but safely and comfortably, too.
Start with a medical consultation
If the air ambulance company you’re considering doesn’t offer to consult with you prior to departure, then it’s time to search for an air ambulance company that will.
There may come a time when you will need the services of an air ambulance. If the situation in which the need arises is an emergency situation, you probably won’t be the person responsible for coordinating the details. Members of an emergency response team will handle this. And that’s a good thing since most people cannot be expected to react rationally in an emergency situation. In non-emergency situations however, you should be able to handle coordinating an air ambulance.No matter which air ambulance company you contact, the process will go more smoothly if you are prepared to provide the information that likely will be requested by the air ambulance company coordinator. Here’s an overview of the information you should have available before making contact.
Basic medical information
Be prepared to provide a basic explanation of the patient’s current medical condition, including patient’s age. You should also provide the full name, address and contact information of the facility at which the patient is currently located and that of the medical facility to which the patient is to be transported. If you have an anticipated transport date, provide that as well.
This basic information will help the air ambulance coordinator determine whether or not the company can meet your needs including your timeframe. Some companies only operate within the United States and others are set up to operate internationally. This information is also going to help determine the best type of aircraft to use for the transport which in turn will help the coordinator put together a fairly accurate price quotation.
Ask questions
Now is the time for you to ask any questions you have about the air ambulance company itself. You may want to inquire about the type of licensing the air ambulance company maintains and whether all licensing is current.
You can also inquire as to which, if any, additional services are included in the price you have been quoted. It’s probably also a good idea to thoroughly understand payment terms, even if the patient’s medical insurance covers air ambulance transportation. Most companies will coordinate medical insurance paperwork but while you’re talking with an air ambulance representative, it doesn’t hurt to find out whether this service is included in the price.
And if you need further convincing, ask the air ambulance company representative to provide you with a list of names and phone numbers of patients who have recently used their services. If you are able to get a list of references, be sure to contact some people. Ask if they were satisfied with the professionalism and training of the staff, if the flight departed and landed on time, and if they had any issues with excessive fees that were not quoted.
Repeat the steps
It never hurts to call a couple of different air ambulance companies before making a final decision about who will transport your loved one. You should be able to get a good feel for the air ambulance company after talking with the flight coordinator. Good luck!
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