When a situation arises that is dire and critical enough to warrant the use of an air evac service, it can be very troublesome to choose a service. There are numerous factors to be thought about when making such a big choice. This report will breeze through those factors and hopefully help in making an informed selection when it comes to choosing an air evac service.
The first thing that must be thought about is the aeroplane itself. If possible, select a service with planes that are equipped with sizable fuel tanks, so as to lessen fuel stops that might detain the transfer of the patient. A large plane with a large fuel tank typically also comes with a more massive entry doorway, which will make loading and unloading smoother.
An additional factor to find out about an air ambulance is how many pilots they have per aeroplane. Having two pilots is surely better than having one pilot, as there will be an assurance or safety net if ever something happens to one of the pilots. Also, learn about how the air evacuation service selects their pilots. Ask how many hours pilots are recommended to have flown before being allowed to fly their air ambulance aircraft. 2,000 hours of flying experience is generally a conservative number.
Besides the flight crew, one must also think about the quality of the medical staff on board. The pilots may be flying the plane, but these are the people who will be caring for and ensuring the safety of the passenger on board. The quality of the medical staff is very important. Not all air evacuation services prepare their medical crew for flight-specific crises and situations. Be sure to choose a service that has vision to do so.
One more thing to ponder is how well outfitted an air evac service’s aircraft is. Medical equipment seems like it should be identical for all air ambulances, but because of the large costs of operation, many air evacuation providers charter out their planes. Due to this, many aircrafts do not have the complete array of the medical equipment that might possibly be necessary. This is a risk that a person should never be willing to take.
There are also air evac services that have open policies about people traveling with the patient. Patients are far more likely to handle the flight more easily when accompanied by family or friends, so this is an important matter to consider. Some air evac services will let family and friends onboard, but for a expensive fee. It would be a good idea to search for a service that allows at least a couple of people on the plane with the passenger, gratis.
Be sure to pick an air evac service that offers bedside to bedside service. This means that the flight and medical crew will be with the patient until he or she reaches the hospital or medical facility. This way, the medical crew can inform the hospital team on the patient’s status and give them all the data they will want to know.
Denise K. Wayne is a long-time expert on air evac services. One may learn more regarding how to hire an air evac at her site.