Air Transport: Medical Aspects

Abstract

This chapter presents the medical aspects of air transport and discusses the role of helicopters in the transport of casualties. Fixed wing aircraft are used by some organizations for the evacuation of large numbers of casualties. However, to operate such aircraft requires special facilities, namely, sophisticated airports, close to both the disaster and the designated hospitals. It also requires aircraft to be specially equipped, and a high level of expertise to administer and staff the organization. Helicopters provide a good method of casualty transport, particularly over short distances, and over terrain that cannot be traversed by conventional vehicles. Where access to casualties is difficult, in the absence of or congestion of roads, the helicopter is the vehicle of choice. Transfers can be shore-to-shore, ship-to-shore, or ship-to-ship. The normal transit height in coastal waters is 2000 feet; however, for short distances this can be reduced to between 200 and 500 feet.