Medical Airlift Question
Discussion
In most all areas of the states Emergency Medical Services are available. By law, they must be at one's side within around 5 minutes. This time varies with local laws as local taxes are the funding source. Most areas have some choppers on hand for those injuried, etc in rural areas or on deserted roads.
Do most of your services offer airmed service? I have been places, some here, where it was not available and would have made the difference between life and death.
Do most of your services offer airmed service? I have been places, some here, where it was not available and would have made the difference between life and death.
Colonial said:
We've got the Royal Flying Doctor Service for remote areas (I'm talking really remote) and also organisations like rescue helicopters in more built up areas
Both do a damm fine job.
Good to hear, they can make a great difference. Many cars here (GM mostly) have "Onstar" which alerts a center via satellite when a crash is detected whether the driver takes action or not. That has been proving to be a nice advance.Both do a damm fine job.
Jimbeaux said:
Colonial said:
We've got the Royal Flying Doctor Service for remote areas (I'm talking really remote) and also organisations like rescue helicopters in more built up areas
Both do a damm fine job.
Good to hear, they can make a great difference. Many cars here (GM mostly) have "Onstar" which alerts a center via satellite when a crash is detected whether the driver takes action or not. That has been proving to be a nice advance.Both do a damm fine job.
That on board technology sounds like a very interesting advance. Don't believe we have it here yet, but it would be a good thing.
The big problem is the remoteness. If you crash on say the Nullabor Plain between Adelaide and Perth you are basically 1000km from civilisation either way. Makes an air service all that much more needed.
Colonial said:
Jimbeaux said:
Colonial said:
We've got the Royal Flying Doctor Service for remote areas (I'm talking really remote) and also organisations like rescue helicopters in more built up areas
Both do a damm fine job.
Good to hear, they can make a great difference. Many cars here (GM mostly) have "Onstar" which alerts a center via satellite when a crash is detected whether the driver takes action or not. That has been proving to be a nice advance.Both do a damm fine job.
That on board technology sounds like a very interesting advance. Don't believe we have it here yet, but it would be a good thing.
The big problem is the remoteness. If you crash on say the Nullabor Plain between Adelaide and Perth you are basically 1000km from civilisation either way. Makes an air service all that much more needed.
This website shows coverage but I think they are all operated by charities. I believe the police helicopters, particularly the newer ones can carry patients but need to be reconfigured. That's not all fact, but it's what I think I know.
We have something called the Civil Defence Farce which pretends to be an emergancy service, but TBH you are better off hailing a taxi!!
the red rhino!
- The ambulance will wait at every set of traffic lights, the taxi by routine jumps most of them
- No one will get out of the way of an ambulance, everyone gets out of the way of taxi's as they just don't give a s
t and are driven by nutters. - The taxi will take you to your choice of hospital!!!
- The taxi will probably be cheaper!
the red rhino!
moleamol said:
This website shows coverage but I think they are all operated by charities. I believe the police helicopters, particularly the newer ones can carry patients but need to be reconfigured. That's not all fact, but it's what I think I know.
Additional to this coverage there are Air ambulances based at Glasgow and Inverness. We also make use of RAF Search and Rescue (bases at Lossimouth, Leconfield and Boulmer) which cover the whole country and which have the added advantage of having winching facilities along with coastguard helicopters at the Shetland Isles, Stornoway, Portland and Lee-on-Solent (although their S92s have been recently grounded)Regular dedicated Air Ambulance coverage is limited to daytime use only (as compared with the combined police/ambulance helicopters which can operate at night)
Eric Mc said:
In the UK there are a number of Medical Helicopter Services but they are all funded by voluntary subscriptions and donations.
The Police Force I work for operates a helicopter which is also an air ambulance. It carries Pilot, Paramedic Observer and Police Observer, carries one stretcher and a jump seat for a passenger. The Police pay the majority of the bill, the local ambulance trust providing the Paramedic and a small amount of funding. It requires no reconfiguration to carry a patient - it's ready to go. It's also the only air ambulance in the wider area (five counties) with night landing capability. There are charity air ambulances in the area which are also used extensively since they were added over the last decade. I've been to a number of RTCs where both charity and Police choppers have been needed.I've also had the pleasure of a joyride for a day on our one
AndyRw said:
Eric Mc said:
In the UK there are a number of Medical Helicopter Services but they are all funded by voluntary subscriptions and donations.
The Police Force I work for operates a helicopter which is also an air ambulance. It carries Pilot, Paramedic Observer and Police Observer, carries one stretcher and a jump seat for a passenger. The Police pay the majority of the bill, the local ambulance trust providing the Paramedic and a small amount of funding.The impresion I got was that most of the air ambulances in the UK were charity funded. It seems now that some of the newer police choppers have CASEVAC capability - although I doubt that is widespread throughout the UK.
As well as the RAF Rescue service, there is also some Royal Navy coverage and HM Coast Guard.
Apparently, the Coast Guard are far from happy with the "upgrade" from their elderly Sikorsky S-61Ns to the more modern (but smaller and in some ways, less capable), Dauphins.
As well as the RAF Rescue service, there is also some Royal Navy coverage and HM Coast Guard.
Apparently, the Coast Guard are far from happy with the "upgrade" from their elderly Sikorsky S-61Ns to the more modern (but smaller and in some ways, less capable), Dauphins.
rhinochopig said:
Casevac is carried out by a mixture of Charitably (Air Ambulance) funded organisations and the Military (RAF and Navy) - Using knackered old barely airworthy Seakings.
ETA Does anyone know when the SAR Seakings are getting replaced?
Am not so sure how you come to think of the Seakings as being 'knackered' ? Just about every component (apart from the aiframe itself) would be and has been replaced based on hrs used. Not sure of the frequency or TBO (time before overhaul) used by the military? The reality is far from knackered, and given the number of hours they accumulate, quite reliable. Am betting that the UK government/MOD would opt for a Merlin based replacement......ETA Does anyone know when the SAR Seakings are getting replaced?
Edited by rhinochopig on Monday 23 March 10:06
forza whites said:
rhinochopig said:
Casevac is carried out by a mixture of Charitably (Air Ambulance) funded organisations and the Military (RAF and Navy) - Using knackered old barely airworthy Seakings.
ETA Does anyone know when the SAR Seakings are getting replaced?
Am not so sure how you come to think of the Seakings as being 'knackered' ? Just about every component (apart from the aiframe itself) would be and has been replaced based on hrs used. Not sure of the frequency or TBO (time before overhaul) used by the military? The reality is far from knackered, and given the number of hours they accumulate, quite reliable. Am betting that the UK government/MOD would opt for a Merlin based replacement......ETA Does anyone know when the SAR Seakings are getting replaced?
Edited by rhinochopig on Monday 23 March 10:06
We've had periods were no SAR cover was available.
As I understand it Merlin is the proposed replacement, but there were talks a while ago about privatising the SAR function.
Just wondered if anyone knew any more details on when and what?
Merlin is not ideal for SAR in the UK. Though a very capabale aircraft (Canada uses a SAR version) it is just too big for certain types of operation.
Merlin has a tremendous downwash which can casue problems. UK SAr aircraft don't jsut operate in a maritime environment, they have to get up close and personal with cliff faces, and land on all sorts of different terrain from dedicated helicopter facilities, though boggy moors, fields, hill tops motorways and school play grounds.
Merlin is not ideal for all these roles.
The fact is the sea King - in ist S61 Sikorsky and Westland HAR marks is just about right for what is needed in the UK. It can carry a lot of survivors and it can get in and out of quite small places. Remember Boscastle? A merline would have not really been an asset there.
For deep sea long range SAR - the Merlin with its 3 engines - would be great.
SAR pilots I know love the Sea King. Its old has its limitations but with an upgrade to the rotors to give more lift and imporved avoinics it is a very capable SAr platform.
But it will have to be replaced and the fact is there is no real direct replacement for the Seak King.
Merlin has a tremendous downwash which can casue problems. UK SAr aircraft don't jsut operate in a maritime environment, they have to get up close and personal with cliff faces, and land on all sorts of different terrain from dedicated helicopter facilities, though boggy moors, fields, hill tops motorways and school play grounds.
Merlin is not ideal for all these roles.
The fact is the sea King - in ist S61 Sikorsky and Westland HAR marks is just about right for what is needed in the UK. It can carry a lot of survivors and it can get in and out of quite small places. Remember Boscastle? A merline would have not really been an asset there.
For deep sea long range SAR - the Merlin with its 3 engines - would be great.
SAR pilots I know love the Sea King. Its old has its limitations but with an upgrade to the rotors to give more lift and imporved avoinics it is a very capable SAr platform.
But it will have to be replaced and the fact is there is no real direct replacement for the Seak King.
HOGEPH said:
Eric Mc said:
Apparently, the Coast Guard are far from happy with the "upgrade" from their elderly Sikorsky S-61Ns to the more modern (but smaller and in some ways, less capable), Dauphins.
The replacement aircraft are Sikorsky S-92 and AgustaWestland AW 139 helicopters.Eric Mc said:
HOGEPH said:
Eric Mc said:
Apparently, the Coast Guard are far from happy with the "upgrade" from their elderly Sikorsky S-61Ns to the more modern (but smaller and in some ways, less capable), Dauphins.
The replacement aircraft are Sikorsky S-92 and AgustaWestland AW 139 helicopters.The Us Coast Guard helicopters are called Dolphins
Disengage pedant mode...
HOGEPH said:
Eric Mc said:
HOGEPH said:
Eric Mc said:
Apparently, the Coast Guard are far from happy with the "upgrade" from their elderly Sikorsky S-61Ns to the more modern (but smaller and in some ways, less capable), Dauphins.
The replacement aircraft are Sikorsky S-92 and AgustaWestland AW 139 helicopters.The Us Coast Guard helicopters are called Dolphins
Disengage pedant mode...
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