The advantages and disadvantages of using air ambulances

Air ambulances are not always used on all medical incidents but rather used in cases of serious injuries where immediate ambulance services are needed. The major uses of this service include evacuation of casualties or patients who are in serious medical condition and who need emergency medical attention or who need to be transferred to hospitals or trauma centers. Also in transportation of medical equipment, paramedics or additional doctors to an emergency scene and the help to casualties who require advance life support from an on board medical staff.

The advantages of using air ambulances include patients are able to be transferred from one location to maybe a more advanced medical location more quickly as compared to use of other means of transportation. Second, more lives are saved as even in the aircraft medical attention is given to support the patients until they get to the hospital and the medical attention awarded in the plane can lead to reduction of medical complications.

The disadvantages of using air ambulances include the risk of the aircraft crashing and hence killing not only the patients but also the medical staff and plane operators. This is because many of the aircrafts used for such services have little or no maintenance services. Another disadvantage of these services is that they do not contain all necessary equipment and personnel essential for treatment of the patient. This is due to the fact that the planes have limited space to accommodate all the essentials.

Having said that it is of essence to remember that whatever means or system is used to provide medical services to patients there are always risks involved. The medical personnel that go on board in air ambulances are trained to keep them updated on technical operations of various equipment that are used in the ambulances and everyone on board should be certified and accredited.

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