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