Important Facts about Non-Emergency Medical Air Transport

Non-emergency medical transport is very essential for patients who need to be shifted from one facility to another.

It is also vital for patients who are looking to go home after a surgery or a medical procedure. Unlike a regular commercial airline these long distance medical transport services companies can organize air ambulances if required and ensure that the health and safety of the patient is given top priority. Let’s look at such medical transport companies in detail.

1.Purpose Of A Long Distance Medical Transport Company

The main objective of such a company is to provide safe transportation to somebody who is unwell. In most cases the situation is sensitive and needs urgent attention. Every situation needs a specific type of response. A long distance medical transport services company will have on board specialized teams that will be ready to handle any kind of situation.

2. Types of Customers They Cater To

There are long distance ambulance providers who are equipped to transport a patient from one medical facility to another. And there are others who take care of the needs of a medical tourist. The teams on board such ambulances are specially trained to cater to the needs of the patients and give emotional support to the accompanying family members. The staff on board generally consists of nurses and paramedics, with loads of experience.

3. When Is An Air Ambulance The Best Option?

An air ambulance should be considered when the patient is unable to travel by a commercial airliner. Look out for the following symptoms –

1. If the patient cannot sit upright for a long period of time.
2. If the patient has been injured during his visit aboard and is returning home for medical care.
3.  If the patient is in a critical care condition and needs to travel to seek better health care.
4.  For people with a terminal illness, it is highly recommended to fly with a medically trained service provider, instead of a commercial airliner.

4. Choose a Well Accredited Company

A good and reputed long distance ambulance provider will have accreditation with a government agency. Choose a provider who has a sound reputation and good reviews.

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All You Ever Wanted To Know About An Air Ambulance

An air ambulance is the most convenient and comfortable means of transport for patients who are incapable of traveling by road.

An air ambulance is basically a small business class aero plane that has been designed to transport people who need urgent medical aid. It is especially helpful for covering distances beyond hundred miles and in cases when the patient is too weak or unwell to sit through a commercial flight. Have a look at air ambulances in detail.

1. Facilities on an Air Ambulance

The crew on the air ambulance is medically trained and has all the vital equipment like a respirator, ECG machines and CPR aids. The airplane is specially designed to ensure that the patient is safe and comfortable at all times.

2. Types of Air Ambulances

Ambulances can be categorized in two categories. The first type is the helicopters and the second are the small air planes. Helicopters are used for short distances and pressed into service in trauma situations. They are mostly managed by state run hospitals and are linked to the emergency department.  The aircrafts with fixed wings are generally used for medical transport of the non emergency kind.

3. Cost of an Air Ambulance?

As expected air ambulances are expensive. The cost is generally calculated on the condition of the patient, the aircraft that is being hired and the distance to be traveled. A reputed long distance medical transport services company will be committed to providing quality and affordable services to all their clients. It is advisable to carry a health cover when travelling abroad, in order to cover any such unexpected medical expenses.

4. Selecting the Right Service

You can choose an air ambulance service that suits your budget and the needs of the patient. Families can also opt for a medical escort service, especially in the cases where the patient is unable to sit up and handle the landing and takeoff procedures independently. The escort can monitor the condition of the patient continuously and provide any medical aid that he might need.

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Air Travel For The Elderly – Psychological and Physiological Aspects

The fear of travel in the elderly may lead to anxiety and other medical problems.

The anxiety that the elderly feel before boarding a flight is seen in situations like delayed check-ins, reclaim of baggage and at the time of takeoff and landing. The thought of going to the airport and assembling all necessary documents adds to the stress levels. There have been cases that the shooting stress levels lead to a medical condition in which an immediate medical evacuation was required. Let’s read a little more about these two aspects of travelling in the elderly.

1. At The Airport

Imagine an elderly person trying to navigate through a sea of people, trying to reach the right departure or check in counter. He may have poor hearing and eyesight too. The stress levels are bound to rise in such a noisy place. It has been seen that most medical emergencies take place at the terminal and not inside the aircraft.

2. Problems in the Sinus and Ears

The pressure inside the cabin can cause harm to the middle ear and the ear drum. In the elderly sometimes the body fails to balance the pressure on the outside and the inside, leading to the rupture of the ear drum.

3. Motion Sickness

The change in the pressure inside the cabin combined with other psychological factors can leads to motion sickness. These conditions get out of control if the elderly has consumed alcohol in excessive amounts. In most cases this condition is pretty harmless. But in a few it may lead to other serious conditions like dehydration and an imbalance of the electrolytes. Anti histamines are known to be helpful in such cases, but no drug should be administered without consulting a doctor.

4. Risk of Infection

Since elderly are already in a frail state of health the closed cabin cab expose them to a risk of infection from fellow passengers. The most common infections that he may catch are influenza, measles and other respiratory diseases. If possible an elderly should be seated away from other unwell travelers.

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Deal With Jet Lag While Travelling Long Distance

While travelling by air, you may be reaching your destination in the shortest time possible, but your body needs time to get over the jet lag.

When a traveler reaches a destination, his body clock needs time to come back to its normal patterns or Circadian Rhythms. In very simple terms, what we commonly term as jet lag, is the customization of the body with the new time and place. Let’s read a little more about it.

1. When Does It Happen?

Jet lag is generally seen when an individual travels four time zones in a particular direction. In other words if you are travelling from London to Europe you may not feel any tiredness. But if you are travelling to India from London you surely will.

2. Why Is It Called Jet Lag?

In the earlier times when people used to travel by sea they felt less tired and exhausted as the travel time was much more. But modern day aircrafts do not give the body any time to adjust. Hence the tiredness hits you like a jet. People in good health also take at least a good 24 hours to adjust to the new changes.

3. Symptoms of Jet Lag

People who are already suffering from any chronic ailment see their infections rise and get extremely uncomfortable and distressed. In certain cases where the elderly are travelling, families sometimes hire the services of a commercial flight medical escort, to ensure that any unforeseen situation can be controlled in time. The common symptoms are insomnia, lack of appetite, nausea, constipation and extreme tiredness.

4. Avoid Jet Lag

Sleeping while in flight is an easy solution to avoid the jet lag. But then long periods of staying in one place can raise the chances of DVT. Try and relax while in the flight. Avoid further travelling if you are already jet lagged. When making you travel plans, remember that the actual travel time will be twice the time that will be spent in air. Keep the details of a medical escorts company, handy just in case the symptoms aggravate into something serious.

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