How Often Are Air Ambulances Used?
An air ambulance is essentially an ambulance in the sky that is used to transport patients with severe injuries and illnesses to medical centers where they can get the medical attention that they need. These services are growing in popularity due to a number of factors including the rise of more air ambulance companies, as well as the growth of specialized medical treatment facilities. In fact, according to the Association of Air Medical Services, more than 550,000 patients use air ambulance services every year.
WHAT ARE COMMON REASONS TO USE AN AIR AMBULANCE?
Any time someone has had a medical emergency, or is medically unable to travel commercially, an air ambulance is used.
Medical Evacuation Air Ambulances for People Traveling Abroad
Common reasons for this are severe accidents while traveling abroad. Whether it’s an ATV accident, a SCUBA accident, a regular car accident, or a sudden illness, there are numerous reasons that people need a medical evacuation (or MedEvac) from a country they are vacationing in to their home country.
Air Ambulances for Domestic Cases to move to different levels of care
Other times, domestic air ambulances are used to transfer patients from different levels of care. Frequently, when people with severe injuries like spinal cord injuries are stabilized and released from an acute hospital, they need an air ambulance to transport them to a specialty spinal cord rehabilitation center.
Air ambulances for organ transplants
Air ambulances are also regularly used in organ transplants – many times just for the organ itself so it can get to the recipient in time for the transplant.
Air ambulances for moving elderly parents long-distance
Many times, families choose to use an air ambulance when their parents are at a point where the family wants them physically closer, but they are not able to travel independently. In this case, depending on their overall health, either a private jet air ambulance can be considered, or a trained commercial flight medical escort can assist.
ARE AIR AMBULANCES USED MORE OFTEN INTERNATIONALLY OR DOMESTICALLY?
Air ambulances are used both domestically and internationally, and it really depends on the years whether there are more domestic or international flights.
When there aren’t transfers to different levels of care, many domestic air ambulances are driven by snowbirds who become ill in one location and wish to have their medical care in another location.
International air ambulances are generally driven by either travel or relocating infirm family to be closer to care.
GIVE US A CALL TODAY
To learn more about the air ambulance services that we can provide to patients traveling to nearly anywhere in the world contact Air Ambulance Worldwide today. We have flight coordinators standing by 24/7 to answer any questions that you may have.