| Have you ever thought about what would happen | | | | can land on a road near to the accident. They |
| if you were taken seriously ill while on | | | | travel faster than a helicopter and are |
| holiday, either in this country or abroad? | | | | cheaper to run. Fixed wing aircraft can also |
| Not just a bout of food poisoning, but in | | | | fly in conditions that would ground a |
| hospital, maybe as the result of an accident | | | | helicopter ambulance. These are used in rural |
| or a stroke. | | | | counties in US and Australia.. The air |
| | | | ambulance service in these situations is no |
| When you are too ill to take a regular | | | | luxury, it is essential if lives are to be |
| airline seat you will need to be brought home | | | | saved. |
| by air ambulance. Nobody likes to think about | | | | |
| it, but it is worth planning ahead and | | | | Long haul air ambulances are usually business |
| insuring against such eventualities. Make | | | | jets. These are used where patients are to be |
| sure that your vacation insurance covers | | | | transported over transcontinental and |
| this, because it will make a big hole in your | | | | transatlantic distances. They are quicker and |
| bank account otherwise. Read the small print | | | | more comfortable over these longer distances. |
| in your insurance documents to see under | | | | If a person has died abroad relatives will |
| exactly what circumstances an air ambulance | | | | often use an air ambulance to repatriate the |
| will be provided by the insurance company. | | | | remains quickly and with respect. |
| | | | |
| The other main use for these aircraft is to | | | | Helicopter ambulances are in use in most city |
| repatriate the remains of loved ones who have | | | | and remote areas in Europe, North America and |
| died abroad. | | | | Australia. Their usefulness in rural areas is |
| | | | obvious, allowing emergency medical personnel |
| Air ambulances come in two varieties, | | | | to reach the scene of walking, shooting or |
| helicopters and fixed wing. Helicopter air | | | | climbing accidents in the shortest possible |
| ambulances usually carry emergency medical | | | | time. |
| teams to the scene of an accident. They are | | | | |
| extremely useful in rural and city | | | | Helicopters are usually small, so only carry |
| situations. Fixed wing air ambulances can be | | | | the most basic resuscitation equipment. The |
| divided into two types again; short haul and | | | | EMT crew will attempt to stabilize the |
| long haul. | | | | patient enough to allow safe transfer to a |
| | | | hospital. In the city helicopter ambulances |
| Short haul air ambulances are often single or | | | | can dodge traffic and can land on the road |
| twin engined, propeller driven aircraft that | | | | near to traffic accidents. |