The Various Life Saving Aspects of Medical Flights

The use of aircraft as an emergency medical transport has saved many lives. Medical flights are aircraft including small jets and helicopters that quickly transport seriously injured or critically ill people to medical facilities where they can get proper treatment.

Depending on the condition of the traveling patient, medical flights offer different levels of medical care. People who are suffering from a minor health crisis are provided with simple life support system, which consists of basic medical amenities like oxygen and intravenous care. A patient, whose condition is steady but may become worse in the near future, is given the second level of attention known as sophisticated life support system. Along with basic medical requirements, facilities for infusions are also provided. The third and final level is called critical attention. Patients who have a very unstable health condition are put in this category. The on board medical crew may have to perform complex procedures to stabilize the patient. Sometimes even life saving surgical procedures must be done as well on board the medical flight.

The medical crew and pilots of medical flights are highly trained. The American government and the Commission on Air Medical Transportation Systems (CAMTS) have set various standards to which all firms offering medical flights must adhere. These standards ensure that that the on board crew provide the best quality care to the patients being transported.

Jet aircraft are usually used for medical flights when transporting patients. The large area in the aircraft can be used as a mini intensive care unit. When natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, etc. strike, medical flights play a vital role by carrying injured people to medical facilities that are outside the danger zone. These jets are equipped with all the necessary medical equipment and are ideal for transporting injured people over long distances. They typically fly at altitudes above 29000 feet, where there is very little turbulence, making the journey very peaceful for the onboard patient.

Helicopters are also used for medical flights in various situations. Helicopters are very maneuverable and much smaller in size than jets and do not require a runway to land. This allows them to land very near to accidents and other disasters and quickly transports the critically injured people to the nearest medical facilities. The medical crew on board these helicopters is very skilled, as they sometimes have to perform life saving procedures in the small cabin inside the helicopter. Most helicopters do not have pressurized cabins and the on board medical personnel must be trained to deal with the complications that may occur.

There are many firms available on the Internet, which offer medical flights to patient at very reasonable prices. A simple Google search will provide you with a list of firms whom you can hire. The type of aircraft, the distance of transportation as well as the number of medical personnel required are some of the factors that greatly affect the cost of a medical flight. Compare the quotes provided by various firms and choose the one that suits your requirements the most.

C. Graper is the author of this article on Medical Flights. Find more information about Air Ambulance here.