The history of the air ambulance dates back to the 1870s especially during the Franco-Prussian war. During these battles more than 160 soldiers were carried from the battlefields to hospitals using hot air balloons. This idea was based on the concept used by Napoleon who had devised a way of moving wounded soldiers to from battlefields in order to receive better medical attention.
The wounded soldiers would be taken to trauma facilities where they would be stabilized and then moved to nearby hospitals. Hot air balloons were quite temperamental as well as being unstable for use in bad weather hence when the Wright brothers successfully made the first fixed-wing aircraft in 1903, the age of the winged air rescue services began taking shape.
The first test flight for moving wounded personnel failed miserably in 1910 when it crash landed after only 500 yards; however hope burned bright in the hearts of airmen this was possible. A successful air rescue using a fixed wing aircraft was carried out in 1917 in Turkey involving a British soldier wounded in action. The soldier was successfully moved from the field to a medical centre in a record 45 minutes by air. If the authorities had insisted on moving him by road they would have taken 3 days to reach the hospital.
This operation sent a clear message to the authorities that if casualties could be moved quickly the mortality rate of the wounded could be greatly reduced. It is important to note that these services only applied to wounded military personnel not civilians.
Today the air ambulance has become an important aspect of quasi-government operation. There are now private air transport services contracted by cities, counties and states to offer emergency services when required.
When these services are contracted by the local authorities or states the taxpayer shoulders most of the cost but in some instances patients or their families pay for them. Modern air rescue services may involve a paramedic team that rushes to the scene of accident and moves the injured to a medical centre.
On the other hand a team consisting of a doctor and nurse may be transported to the disaster scene to administer treatment before the patient is airlifted to a medical facility. The following are some of the aspects of rescue services by air that have changed since the first successful operation:
- Rescue is carried out by medical aircraft. Flights are made possible by either helicopters, which can access the most remote terrains, or by fixed wing aircraft.
- Civilian rescue services have gained popularity and most people can access the services either by subscription or in case they reside in state or city that use such methods in instances that require urgent medical attention.
- Treatment can be administered at the scene of accident thus improving the survival chances of the wounded by a wide margin.
- Air rescue is much safer today due to technological advancement which ensures that patients are handled and moved with more care thus minimizing the chances of aggravating their delicate conditions during while on transit.
Air ambulance services have come a long way since the first flight but in the process many lives have been rescued and countless lessons have been learned. These rescue services have made it possible for patients to be rescued and treated in time, thus making the world a better place for humankind than ever before.
Denise K. Wayne is a flight nurse and registered pilot. She's been writing about air ambulance travel for over 10 years. Get a free air ambulance quote here, or see a complete list of flights to U.S. cities at: www.airambulanceone.com/air-ambulance-flights-to-u-s-cities-international
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