When it comes to rescuing lives, speed becomes the main argument. Air ambulance crash make it possible to cover hundreds of kilometers in a matter of hours – to places where every moment counts. But this desire for speed often overshadows safety concerns.
Despite the high professionalism of the crews and strict regulations, accidents involving medical aircraft still occur. Some attribute this to difficult weather conditions and worn-out equipment, while others blame pilot overload and lack of funding. So how is air ambulance safety when there are no passengers on board, but patients for whom this journey may be their last hope?
How reliable is medical transport?
Unfortunately, according to news reports and government data, fatalities resulting from medical flights are far from rare. Such tragedies should not occur today, thanks to modern technologies that ensure the safety of contingency patrols.
Such cases seem even more frightening because of the work that healthcare professionals do, as they are supposed to save lives, but as a result, it can end tragically not only for the people they rush to help, but also for themselves. Safety improvements are urgently needed to provide rescue planes and medical copters with all the safety features that will help limit the risk of these accidents.
Not only salvation, but also serious danger: what causes accidents?
Unfortunately, there are a significant number of documented cases of people who have suffered serious injuries or died as a result of accidents involving air ambulance helicopters. Most frequently, the causes of medevac plane accidents are the same as those of other aviation disasters. Occasionally it`s a technical malfunction, sometimes pilot error or safety violations, and sometimes weather conditions are also a factor.
In some such cases, there is an economic rationale. Cost for air ambulance is at least several thousand dollars, and in some cases can reach $250,000 or even more. This is much more than cost of a regular clinic. Private insurance companies and even some state-run ones cover part of these costs. It is important to remember that there are 400,000 medical flights every year, which represents a huge amount of money for the pilots and the hospital itself.
What can reduce the risks for medical transport?
To address the risks for medical aircraft, it`s necessary to conduct a flight risk assessment. This requires consideration of weather conditions, visibility, and the possibility of hazardous landing sites. The risk during a rescue operation is always high in unfavorable weather conditions and other hazardous circumstances.
During the course of the research, it became clear that rescue helicopters are not always the best way to conduct rescue operations. In some cases, they are not needed at all. There are cases when a person’s injuries are not extremely serious, and transport by ambulance will get them to the clinic faster than a helicopter.
There is a belief that rescue pilots often carried out missions in poor weather conditions, and that many injuries and fatalities occurred precisely in adverse conditions such as fog, snowfall, rain or thunderstorms. These requirements are equally dangerous for both copters and cars. In such cases, the curative facility is obliged to send an ambulance instead of a copter. This will help to protect the pilot, crew and even the patient in the event of a copter accident.
Options for resolving the situation
Night vision devices used by military helicopter pilots enable them to see in the dark. Using such devices does not require any changes or improvements to the design of the helicopters, but pilots will need to undergo additional training to learn how to use them. A survey recently conducted by the National Association of Air Ambulance Pilots showed impressive results in favor of night vision devices. If all aeromedical evacuation were accounted for with such devices, this would have a positive impact on the number of accidents involving such flights.
The survey also showed that pilots should undergo improved flight training. The FAA is forced to create more challenging conditions for emergency pilots during testing. It`s necessary to ensure that these pilots will be able to fly the helicopter in poor weather conditions, which have caused many accidents.
FAQ
How often do air ambulance accidents occur?
Accidents are rare, especially considering the large number of medical flights performed. The main risks are related to weather conditions, the urgency of calls and landings in unprepared areas, but the overall accident rate remains low.
How safe are air ambulances?
Air medical services are considered safe: there are strict controls on technical conditions, increased requirements for pilots and strict risk assessment protocols. However, their work involves more challenging conditions than regular passenger flights.
How many Medevac helicopters crash?
The exact figures vary depending on the country and period, but such incidents are extremely rare. Medevac helicopters make thousands of flights every year, and the number of accidents accounts for only a small fraction of all flights.
Why don’t air ambulances always fly at night?
Night flights are possible but limited due to increased risks: difficulty navigating in the dark, lack of illuminated landing sites, weather factors, and certification requirements for night flights. Therefore, some services only perform night missions if they have special equipment and conditions.
