We all have heard about the need for an air ambulance. Down here in Cornwall it’s a vital service to our county. A few years back a family member accidentally cut their thumb off with an electric saw (apologies for the gruesome details!) They live in a pretty rural area so the fastest way to the hospital was by air ambulance which landed in the field opposite their house. Needless to say, they got medical help quickly and safely.
The Role of the Air Ambulances
Air ambulances helicopters are operated by charities and private companies. They are the fastest and safest way of getting help if there is an emergency. They are used when a person needs medical attention in the case of a medical emergency and land ambulances are unable to reach the patient. Or they need a very fast trip to the ED. Fixed-wing medical aircraft are used for long-distance transport across country for example.
Air ambulances can be used in many different emergencies. They have been used for everything from heart attacks and strokes to car accidents and breathing problems. They also transport patients from one hospital to another.
To sum it up, an air ambulance has two distinct roles: providing medical care to the patient and transporting the patient to an emergency department (ED).
How Fast Can an Air Ambulances Fly?
A typical air ambulance takes off from its base and flies at high speed to reach the patient as soon as possible, wherever they may be located. An air ambulance can make fast short hops from point A to point B providing life-saving care in emergencies such as car crashes. It is usually in the air within 4 minutes and flies at around 140 mph. Most areas are reachable in 15 minutes, although this can be longer if the area is remote.
What Personnel Fly on an Air Ambulance?
An air ambulance has a pilot and then two specialist care paramedics. Other countries and regions may differ and have a nurse and doctor as their crew or a mixture.
The History of Air Ambulances
With the help of science and technology, air ambulances are now capable of transporting patients with life-threatening injuries to hospitals so much faster and safer.
The first recorded British ambulance flight took place in 1917. But the first air ambulance services in the UK commenced in Scotland in November 1933. Down here in Cornwall, our first air ambulance took to the skies in April 1987 and has since completed more than 29,000 missions.