Different Services That Air Ambulances Offer

Air ambulances are aircrafts provided by long distance medical transport services companies to patients who do not have easy access to good medical facilities.

Air ambulances are life savers for patients who are critically ill and need to be shifted to larger medical institution. An air ambulance needs to be equipped with a ventilator, ECG Unit, stretchers, all life saving drugs and an experienced team.

Air ambulance have been in the army for long, but it was only in the 1920’s that the concept was also utilized for civilians.

Let’s have a look at the services Air Ambulances offer –

1. Fully Equipped For Critically Ill Patients

An air ambulance is fully equipped to handle all kinds of medical emergencies. It is fully capable of handling any patient surgery, or any other life saving treatment. The aircraft can handle it all.

2. Trained Paramedics, Medical Escorts and Flight Nurses

The team on board an air ambulance is experienced, trained and ready to handle any crisis. Certain long distance medical transport services companies even send a doctor to assist the paramedic team. They are also fully briefed to undertake an evacuation if the need arises.

3. Travel medical assistance company

It is always advisable to hire a well reputed long distance medical transport service provider. 

Check the review and speak to your friends and family about their services. Most insurance companies offer cover for airlifting patients. Travelers must ensure they enroll for it, before embarking on nay travel. Air ambulances all over the globe have been saving the, lives of in-numerous patients and by relocating them to better medical facilities.

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What Do Flight Nurses Do?

A flight nurse is a licensed and registered nurse, who is present on an air ambulance to handle the patients in a trauma situation or in need of specialized care.

Medical escorts and flight nurses are primarily responsible for providing immediate medical assistance to patients.

Their duty starts right from the crisis scene till the time a patient is safely transported to the hospital. Their services are often offered by long distance medical transport services companies, offering air ambulance services for patients.

They are mostly supported by a paramedic team, which might include a flight physician or a respiratory specialist if required.

Let’s have a look at the duties of a medical escort and flight nurses –

1. Provide Relief From Stress

A flight nurse is responsible for rescuing patients from intense stress situations that might include mental, physical and psychological factors. It is their duty to ensure that every patient on board the air ambulance gets the right medical care at the right time, while in flight.

2. Right Assessment of The Situation

The flight nurse is required to make a precise assessment of the situation in order to devise the most suited plan of action for the patient. She or he needs to assess his medical condition with regards to his ailments, administer any medicines, monitor vital functions and ensure that there are enough supplies and equipment on board.

3. Liaison Factor

Flight nurses and medical escorts need to create the perfect liaison between the team at the medical facility and the team on board the air ambulance. He or she should be able to communicate effectively about the patient’s condition and any preparations that the receiving unit needs to undertake.

4. Handle Any Surgical Emergencies

The flight nurse should be trained to undertake a surgery in the absence of a flight physician in order to save the life of the patient.

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Air Ambulance Services – The Operating Model

Air ambulances are civilian aircrafts that are pressed into service during a medical emergency.

Air ambulances can be categorized on the basis of their operating models of the EMS. The emergency medicine system has classified air ambulances into two base models –

• The Anglo American Model
• The Franco German Model

Both these models vary in their approach to a situation. While in one the doctor is in charge, in the other the paramedic calls the shots.

Lets read about these two models in detail –

1.Franco German Model –

• In the air ambulance based on this model, the physician travels with the patient in the air craft. The doctor monitors the patient constantly and takes all the decisions regarding him.  
• In this model the support staff like nurses, paramedic staff and the doctors arrive at the site or accident location with the help of an air ambulance.
• The paramedics take care of the first aid and hand over the case to  the doctor.
• The doctor arrives at the crisis site with all the equipment he might need.
• The patient is transported only deemed stable and fit to travel.

2.  The Anglo American Model –

• The patient is straightaway transferred to a hospital with the help of long distance medical transport services.
• The doctors and nurses take over the moment the patient reaches the medical facility.
• The paramedics handle the case at the location and ensure that a patient is transported safely to the hospital.
• The first line of treatment is handled by the paramedics and no doctor is involved at that stage.
• The team stays in touch with a doctor in case any special on the spot procedures need to be carried out.

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Is Travel Insurance Really That Essential?

Travelers who empower themselves with a good travel insurance, tend to minimize the risk that appear due to illnesses, accidents, cancellations and other unforeseen circumstances.

The amount of loss that a traveler bears in the absence of a travel insurance depends on the amount he has already paid, the status of the ticket he is holding, the actual value of the luggage he is carrying and his general state of health. The terms of the airline and the medical insurance that the traveler is already holding will also determine his loss figure in case of a medical emergency while travelling. Whether travel insurance is a good thing or not, needs to be decided by the traveler himself.

Let’s read about travel insurance in a little detail –

1.    The Basics of Insurance

The travel insurance can be divided into five main categories –

• Interruption and cancellations
• Medical emergencies
• Evacuation request
• Insurance on flight and of baggage
• Flight insurance

Additionally, a client can choose to add riders like protection against theft and evacuation in the case of a political crisis too. A comprehensive cover will cover most of these factors and will take care of everything.

2.    Travel Insurance

In the past decade it has been seen that companies offering long distance medical transport services, are encouraging patients to opt for a cover specifically for travel, besides their regular insurance. Most of these insurances cover cost between 12 to 5 percent of the total cost of the trip. Age is the foremost factor when deicing the cover price. Coverage for children who are seventeen or under is usually free, but most expensive for the elderly.

3.    Cancellation Or Interruption Insurance

It is strongly advised by all travel medical assistance companies to read the offer document word by word before signing on the dotted line. This is the most bought insurance as it protects the money paid for the trip, in case of any cancellation. It is a good idea to take this cover in case your loved ones are not in the best of health and might not be able to travel at the last minute.

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