When it comes to medical emergencies, time is of the essence. Every second counts when trying to get a patient to the right medical facility as quickly and safely as possible. That’s why air ambulance services are so important; they can be the difference between life and death in certain circumstances.
But what exactly is an air ambulance service? What benefits do they offer, and who should consider using them? That’s what we’re here to answer.
What Is an Air Ambulance Service?
An air ambulance service is an aircraft that’s equipped with medical personnel and medical equipment to transport critically ill or injured patients from one medical facility to another. The aircraft is usually a helicopter, airplane, or jet. Air ambulances are typically used to transport patients in medical emergencies, such as heart attacks or severe trauma because they are faster and more efficient than conventional ground ambulances.
Benefits of Air Ambulance Services
Speed
Air ambulances can transport patients quickly from one medical facility to another, which can make a huge difference in the outcome of the patient’s condition. In other words, patients transported via air ambulance can get to the right medical facility faster to get proper medical help.
Safety
Air ambulances are equipped with medical personnel and equipment, ensuring that patients are well taken care of during the journey. The cabin members are also well-trained to efficiently salvage emergencies by piloting safely and carefully to the nearest hospital.
Flexibility
Air ambulances can travel to remote locations or avoid heavily congested areas, which can be beneficial in certain medical emergencies. They are not restricted by hills, valleys, forests, or any other obstruction often encountered by ground ambulances.
Larger Capacity
Air ambulances can carry more passengers than any other vehicle, which makes them perfect in case of emergencies like natural disasters or terrorist attacks where many people may require medical attention at once.
Who Should Consider Using Air Ambulance Services?
Air ambulance services are typically used in medical emergencies, such as heart attacks, strokes, or severe trauma. They can also be used in situations where the patient needs to be transported quickly, such as when they need to be taken to a medical facility in another city or state.
Air ambulances can be used in combat areas where it’s critical to rescue victims of war or even victims of natural disasters.
Air ambulance services can also be beneficial for those who live in remote areas or those who need to be transported to medical facilities that are difficult to get to by ground ambulance.
How To Book An Air Ambulance
- Contact your Current Medical Facility For Approval
If a patient is currently in one medical facility, you’ll need to inform the hospital about your intention to transfer the patient to another hospital with an air ambulance. Your current hospital will analyze the patient’s condition to confirm if the patient can withstand being transferred by air ambulance.
- Contact the Air Ambulance Service Provider
After getting approval from your medical facility and you’ve done all the necessary findings about various providers, you’ll need to contact your desired air ambulance provider ahead of time to schedule a pickup for you or your family member in need of emergency medical help.
Once you’ve reached out to a provider, you’ll be given a quote for their services. Make sure to ask if there will be any additional charges.
- Provide the Relevant Information
The air ambulance service provider will ask you several questions concerning the situation of the medical emergency. They’ll want to know the type of injury or medical condition of the patient and the medical record of the patient. You should also provide details about the number of people that need to be transported. Air ambulance providers need all the information necessary so that the aircraft will be well-equipped to meet the patient’s needs.
- Prepare for the Arrival
If there’s no landing area nearby, you might need to get a ground ambulance to move the patients to the landing area of the air ambulance. You’ll also need to contact the hospital you’re heading to so they can get ready to pick up the patients from the destination landing area.
Air ambulance services are an essential part of the medical community. The swift transportation of air ambulances makes it possible to move people in need of urgent medical attention across long distances faster than ever. Hence, if you require medical emergency transport, consider using an air ambulance service.
