| Air ambulance services have saved the lives | | | | Air ambulance environments present unique |
| of countless individuals since the first such | | | | challenges |
| flight took place back in 1928. Today, | | | | |
| government institutions, private enterprises | | | | Depending on the circumstances, the patient |
| and everyday people just like you rely on the | | | | may be transported on a jet, flying as high |
| speed and expertise that only the air | | | | as a commercial airliner. Therefore, the |
| ambulance system can provide. | | | | transfer from ground to air entails a whole |
| | | | new transfer of responsibility. Once onboard |
| When life is in peril, and transportation via | | | | an air ambulance, the patient will need to be |
| other modes simply wont be adequate, its good | | | | stabilized and the environment will need to |
| to know that there is an air ambulance | | | | be prepared for flight. Thats why its |
| company standing by, ready to save lives. | | | | important for the medical staff onboard to |
| Youve probably heard stories about accident | | | | have additional medical training. They need |
| victims being transported by helicopter or by | | | | to be prepared to deal with the types of |
| aircraft to trauma centers. You many have | | | | changes that may result in flight such as the |
| even seen this type of transportation in | | | | change in air pressure, humidity, gravity, |
| action. In this type of situation, emotions | | | | oxygen levels and turbulence. |
| run high and professionals are needed stat! | | | | |
| | | | Here are a few examples of changes a patient |
| Air ambulances rise above it all | | | | might experience onboard. The lower humidity |
| | | | inside the aircraft cabin might prevent the |
| When an air ambulance gets called to the | | | | free flow of pulmonary secretions which may |
| accident scene, it means the individual has | | | | lead to plugging up the airways. An eye |
| sustained significant injuries, and most | | | | injury might require a patients head to be |
| often, those injuries are life-threatening. | | | | raised and/or immobilized and might also |
| When thats the case, the patient has no time | | | | require a change in cabin pressure. Head |
| to wait while a ground ambulance makes its | | | | injury patients likewise will need their |
| way across town, darting in and out of | | | | heads elevated. Aircraft transporting |
| traffic all along the journey towards help. | | | | patients being administered 100% oxygen need |
| | | | to fly at lower than normal altitudes. |
| In order to make a difference in a patients | | | | |
| predicament, an air ambulance needs to have | | | | Already emotionally distraught, what can |
| onboard the right equipment to effectively | | | | complicate matters the most while on an air |
| deal with the patients particular injuries. | | | | ambulance is a patients fear of flying. Being |
| Thats a tall order, yet its one that most | | | | forced onto a plane, even in a life-or-death |
| always works to the patients benefit. | | | | situation, can dramatically alter a patients |
| Ensuring that the right air ambulance arrives | | | | vital signs even more that they may already |
| on the scene literally can make the | | | | be altered, making it more important than |
| difference between life and death. | | | | ever for air ambulance medical staff to know |
| | | | what theyre doing. |