An air ambulance is a special type of aircraft that airlifts injured or sick patients from one point to another. This type of ambulance is equipped with all the necessary equipment and tools needed to monitor and safeguard the patient on board.
In addition to medical equipment and tools, an air ambulance is also boarded with emergency medications and medical professionals who are highly trained to take care of patients while being flown. Non-medical staffs are also boarded inside the ambulance that will be responsible in handling the transport process of the patient.
International Air Ambulance Services
Air ambulance is a reliable mode of transporting patients ever since the World War 1 and has been one of the important components in emergency and rescue operations. Below are some of the discussions on how air ambulances are in different parts of the world:
United Kingdom has 27 air ambulance services. These companies usually use helicopters and fixed-wing aircrafts of which 32 of the aircrafts cover the entire England and Wales. The Scottish Ambulance Service operates two helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft and has an air wing that is solely funded publicly in the UK.
The air ambulance in Greece is being sponsored by its government agencies and some from the private sector. Government sponsored air ambulance companies use fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters which are made available 24 hours a day. 365 days a year. The privately held air ambulance companies on the other hand offer fixed and rotary wing aircrafts and operates for commercial scheduled airlifts.
In Norway, the Stifltelsen Norsk Luftambulanse is the organization responsible for promoting and implementing necessary measures when it comes to emergency medical support. This foundation, with 820 members and 220 employees runs air ambulance helicopters and planes in the country.
In the US, the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) does the auditing and accrediting of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft services to maintain certain standard criteria.