Air ambulance
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2008-07-10T03:30:28Z
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[[Image:Assignment-Spot-News-Heli.jpg|thumb|right|[[Ontario]] [[Ornge (Ontario Air Ambulance)|Ornge]] [[Sikorsky S-76]] air ambulance]]
[[Image:Traumahawk 3.JPG|thumb|right|The [[Traumahawk|Traumahawk Air Ambulance]] of [[Palm Beach County, FL]], U.S.]]
An '''air ambulance''' is an [[aircraft]] used for [[Medical emergency|emergency medical assistance]] in situations where either a traditional [[ambulance]] cannot easily or quickly reach the scene or the patient needs to be repositioned at a distance where air transportation is most practical. Air ambulance crews are supplied with equipment that enables them to provide medical treatment to a critically injured or ill patient. Common equipment for air ambulances includes [[respirators]], [[medication]], an [[ECG]] and monitoring unit, [[CPR]] equipment, and [[stretchers]].
== Ambulance crew and passengers ==
[[Image:King Air 200 air ambulance.JPG|thumb|left|King Air 200 interior]]
The medical crew of an air ambulance varies depending on country, area, service provider and by type of air ambulance, but in most schemes may consist of one or more members of [[ambulance]] crew, such as an [[Emergency Medical Technician]] or [[Paramedic]], sometimes a [[Flight nursing|flight nurse]], or in some cases, a [[physician]]. Some air ambulance companies have fulltime, on-site medical directors with pertinent backgrounds (e.g., emergency medicine); others have medical directors who are only available on pager.
Air ambulance pilots are required to have a great deal of experience in piloting their aircraft because the conditions of air ambulance flights are often more challenging than regular non-emergency flight services. After a spike in air ambulance crashes in the United States in the 1990s, the US government and [[CAMTS]] have stepped up the accreditation and air ambulance flight requirements, ensuring that all pilots, personnel, and physical aircraft meet much higher standards than what was previously required.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-07-18-air-ambulance_x.htm "Reconsidering air ambulance usage"] ''USA Today'', [[18 July]] [[2005]]. Retrieved: [[12 November]] [[2007]].</ref>
CAMTS accreditation includes the requirement for an air ambulance company to own and operate its own aircraft. Some air ambulance companies, realizing it is virtually impossible to have the correct medicalized aircraft for every mission, instead charter aircraft based on the mission-specific requirements.
Depending on the equipment, crew composition, and condition of the patient, there is sometimes room for one or more passengers. Space in most air ambulances is very limited, so friends and family often must follow the air ambulance by other means.
== History ==
[[Image:Danish Red Cross plain.jpg|thumb|right|Older version of a Danish air ambulance]]
* 1914 - 1918 - Early air ambulances were first tested by various military organizations.
* 1928 - The first air ambulance service was established in the [[Australia]]n [[outback]]. This organization became the [[Royal Flying Doctor Service]].
* 1934 - The first civil air ambulance service in Africa was established in [[Morocco]] by [[Marie Marvingt]].
* 1936 - A military air ambulance service evacuated wounded from the [[Spanish Civil War]] for treatment in [[Nazi Germany]].
* 1946 - The first civilian air ambulance in North America was established by the Saskatchewan government in [[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina]], [[Saskatchewan]], [[Canada]] - this service was still in operation in 2007.
* 1947 - Schaefer Air Service, the first air ambulance service in the United States, was founded by J. Walter Schaefer of Schaefer Ambulance Service in [[Los Angeles, California]]. Schaefer Air Service was also the first FAA-certified air ambulance service in the U.S.
* 1970 - On [[November 1]] the first permanent civil [[West Germany|german]] air ambulance helicopter ''Christoph 1'' entered service at the Hospital of [[Untergiesing-Harlaching|Harlaching]], [[Munich]]. The apparent success led to a quick expansion of the concept over Germany, with ''Christoph 10'' entering service in 1975, ''Christoph 20'' in 1981 and ''Christoph 51'' in 1989. As of 2007 there are about 80 helicopters named after [[Saint Christopher]], like ''Christoph Europa 5'' (also serving [[Denmark]]), ''Christoph [[Brandenburg]]'' or ''Christoph [[Murnau am Staffelsee|Murnau]]''. [[Austria]] adopted the German system in 1983 when ''Christophorus 1'' entered service at [[Innsbruck]].
* 1969 - Two programs were implemented in the U.S. to assess the impact of medical helicopters on mortality and morbidity in the civilian arena. Project CARESOM was established in Mississippi in 1969. Three helicopterw were purchased through a federal grant and located strategically in north, central and southern areas of the state. Upon termination of the grant the program was considered a success and each of the three communities was given the opportunity to continue the helicopter operation. Only the one located in Hattiesburg did so, thereby establishing the first civilian air medical program in the U.S.
The second program, the Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic (MAST) system, was established in Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio in 1969. This was an experiment by the Department of Transportation to study the feasibility of using military helicopters to augment existing civilian emergency medical services.
* 1972 - [[Flight For Life]] Colorado began in 1972 with a single Alouette III helicopter, based at St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver, Colorado. It was the first civilian, hospital-based medical helicopter program in the U.S.
* 1977 - Ontario Canada: Flight Paramedic program began in 1977 with a single rotor-wing aircraft based in Toronto. Today, with 33 aircraft stationed at 26 bases across the province, [[Ornge (Ontario Air Ambulance)|Ornge]] operates the largest and most sophisticated program of aero-medical transport in North America. Over 17,000 admissions are dispatched annually making Ornge North America's largest operator in the field of transport medicine.
*2005 - Air Ambulance crashes, mostly involving helicopters, reach a record high. Crash rates from 2000–2005 more than doubled the previous five year's rates.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-07-17-air-ambulance-crashes_x.htm "Surge in crashes scars air ambulance industry."] ''USA Today'', [[17 July]] [[2005]]. Retrieved: [[12 November]] [[2007]].</ref>
*2006 - The [[NTSB]] deems that many air ambulances crashes were avoidable<ref>[http://www.ntsb.gov/publictn/2006/AAB0605.htm "Official NTSB report on an air ambulance [[Learjet]] crash in [[San Diego]], [[California]] which killed everyone on board, amounting to five deaths."] ''NTSB Publication'', [[24 October]] [[2004]]. Retrieved: [[12 November]] [[2007]].</ref>, eventually leading to the improvement of government standards and [[CAMTS]] accreditation.<ref>[http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-01-25-air-ambulances_x.htm "NTSB: Air ambulance crashes avoidable."] ''USA Today'', [[25 January]] [[2006]]. Retrieved: [[12 November]] [[2007]].</ref>
==Cost==
[[Image:J M Briscoe01 02 2008-10 41 47-03145 G-SASA.jpg|thumb|right|Scottish Ambulance Service EC-135 G-SASA]]
[[Image:LifeStar preparing for takeoff.JPG|thumb|right|An air ambulance prepares to transport a critically injured patient from a car accident on a limited access highway, a task particularly suited to helicopters.]]
In the [[United Kingdom]] the service operates in two distinct manners. In Scotland the national parliament agreed to the state funding of the service however in England and Wales the service is funded on a charitable basis via a number of local charities for each region covered. A website listing [http://www.airambulancecharities.co.uk/find_your_air_ambulance.html UK air ambulance charities].
In the [[United States]] publicly owned air ambulance service is provided by the [[United States Coast Guard]] and other agencies in certain areas, usually at no direct cost to the individual; public air ambulance transport is usually by helicopter and involves shorter distances than privately owned air ambulance jets.{{Fact|date=February 2007}}
==Notable air ambulance services==
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;Australia
*The [[Royal Flying Doctor Service]], the first and longest running air ambulance service, founded in 1928, servicing remote outback communities in Australia's interior.
;Canada
* AirMédic Air Ambulance - AirMédic Ambulance Aérienne (Quebec) A non-profit foundation that provides essential air ambulance service in Quebec. <ref>[http://www.airmedic.net/ AirMédic Ambulance Aérienne]</ref> {{Fact|date=March 2008}}
* [[Ornge (Ontario Air Ambulance)]] - Operates 33 aircraft stationed at 26 bases across the province of [[Ontario]].
* [[Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society|STARS]] - An [[Alberta]] non-profit air ambulance service serving more populated areas. Its funding is provided by donations from the public and corporations.
;Germany
* [[ADAC]] - [[Germany|Germany's]] largest automobile club with a fleet of 38 air rescue helicopters.
* [[Federal Ministry of the Interior (Germany)|The German Federal Ministry of the Interior]] - 16 helicopters.{{Fact|date=January 2008}}
** [[Bundespolizei]] - The German federal police, providing the pilots for these helicopters.{{Fact|date=January 2008}}
;Romania
* [[SMURD]] - Key air ambulance operator in Eastern Europe with international air medical transport capabilities.
;Spain
* [[Mayoral Executive Jet]] - An air ambulance service in Spain, that operates in Africa and Europe.
;Sweden
* [[Norrlandsflyg]]
;Switzerland
* [[Rega (air rescue)|Rega]] - A non-profit air ambulance service in Switzerland. First operator of a civilian jet ambulance.
;United States
* [[Air Methods]] - Largest air ambulance operator, with a fleet of 340 medical transport helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft in 42 states<ref>[http://www.airmethods.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=home Air Methods website]</ref>
* [[ARCH Air Medical Service]] - [[Missouri]], [[Illinois]], and [[Kansas]]- Operates 11 rotor-wing aircraft and 2 King Air fixed-wing aircraft
* [[AIRescue International]] - [[Van Nuys, CA]]- Launched over 15 years ago by UCLA MedStar ER physician Francine Vogler, MD. Transports adults, pediatric/neonatal intensivist patients on a global basis and works closely with university-based Centers of Medical Excellence
* [[Flight for Life]]
* [[Life Flight]]
* [[Stat Medevac]] - [[Pennsylvania]], [[Ohio]], [[Maryland]], and [[New York]]- over 20 helicopters
==See also==
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*[[MEDEVAC]]
*[[Golden hour (medicine)]]
*[[Emergency medical service]]
*[[Air Ambulances in the United Kingdom]]
*[[International SOS]], Provider of air ambulance evacuation & repatriation services
*[[Safety of emergency medical services flights]]
*[[Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems]]
*[[Traumahawk]]
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==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
<!-- Do NOT advertise or add external links here without discussing on [[Talk:Air ambulance]] first. -->
* [http://www.aams.org Association of Air Medical Services]
* [http://www.rth.info/english/english.php Air ambulances in Germany]
* [http://www.ukemergencyaviation.co.uk UK Air Ambulance Information & Operational Info + Gallery]
* [http://www.AIRescue.com]
* [http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1185.html U.S. State Department information on U.S. based air ambulance and medevac companies]
* [http://flightaware.com/live/special/lifeguard/ "Lifeguard" flight tracker]
* [http://www.aviationlisting.net/search_results.php?cate_id=&selMainCategory=Medical+Air+Services&selCountry=all&Keyword=&x=32&y=32 VanguardAero.com - 200+ Worldwide Air Medical Services]
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[[Category:Aviation terminology]]
[[Category:Emergency medical services vehicles]]
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