If a situation arises that is dire and urgent enough to warrant the use of an air evac service, it can be very troublesome to select a service.  There are numerous points to be thought about when making such a critical choice.  This report will go over those factors and ideally aid in making an educated choice when it comes to picking an air evac service.

The first thing that must be considered is the aircraft itself.  If possible, select a service with planes that are equipped with large fuel tanks, so as to minimize fuel stops that might delay the delivery of the patient.  A large aircraft with a sizable fuel tank typically also comes with a bigger entry doorway, which will make loading and unloading easier.

Another factor to learn about an air ambulance service is how many pilots they have per plane.  Having 2 pilots is of course better than having a single pilot, as there will be a guarantee or safety net if ever something happens to one of the pilots.  Also, ask about how the air evacuation service selects their pilots.  Ask how many hours pilots are obligated to have flown before being allowed to fly their air ambulance aircraft.  2,000 hours of flight experience is usually a conservative number.

Aside from the flight crew, one must also think about the caliber of the medical staff on board.  The pilots may be flying the plane, but these are the people who will be looking after and dealing with the safety of the passenger on board.  The quality of the medical staff is crucial.  Not all air evacuation services train their medical crew for flight-specific emergencies and conditions.  Be sure to select a service that has vision to do so.

One more point to think about is how well equipped an air evac service’s plane is.  Medical equipment seems like it should be identical for all air ambulances, but due to the high costs of business, many air evacuation services lease out their planes.  Due to this, many aircrafts do not have the complete array of the medical equipment that might possibly be required.  This is a risk that a person should never be willing to go through.  

There are also air evac services that have open policies about people riding with the patient.  Patients are most likely to deal with the flight more easily when accompanied by family or friends, so this is a significant matter to ponder.  Some air evac providers will let family and friends onboard, but for a expensive price.  It would be a good idea to opt for a service that allows at least a couple of people on the plane with the passenger, gratis.

Be certian to select an air evac service that provides bedside to bedside service.  This means that the flight and medical crew will stay with the patient until he or she gets to the hospital or medical facility.  This way, the medical crew can report to the hospital team on the patient's status and give them all the facts they will need.

Denise K. Wayne is an expert on air ambulances. One can read much more regarding how to choose an air evac at her site.