Medevac, a short form for Medical Evacuation, involves the use of specially equipped aircraft to provide care and transportation to critically ill patients. Air ambulances are often dispatched to scenes of serious accidents, natural disasters or even war zones to assist with casualties. They offer on-site medical care when traditional ground ambulances are not possible or practical. Most often, medevac services are used for inter-facility transfer of critical patients from one medical center to another or on the scene assessment, stabilization and airlift. How does Medevac work? Using fixed-wing air ambulances, ranging in size from single-engine turbo prop planes to Leer jets to Gulfstreams, are dispatched according to the needs of the patient. Compared to rotor wing aircraft, fixed wing planes offer the benefits of flying higher, faster and farther. Medevac air ambulances are staffed with a specialized team of health care providers. The teams may be comprised of Critical Care nurses, Paramedics, Respiratory Therapists, Physicians and Specialists. Air lifts are most often used in cases of: " Trauma, especially spinal or neurological " Severe burns " Neonatal infants " High risk patient transfer " Cardiac arrests, heart attack and strokes " Organ procurement Air ambulances used for Medevac services are able to offer care that is comparable to a mobile intensive care unit. Medical teams are able to provide C-pap and Bi-pap ventilation and other life support as necessary. Pilots are never involved in the medical care during medevac operations.

They are responsible for providing a safe and efficient flight while dedicated medical staff focuses on the care of the patient. Depending on their condition, patients can be flown to Level 1 Trauma Centers or to other medical centers for specialized care. Many medevac ambulances are designed to provide complete isolation for the flight deck from the patient care area. This ensures that the pilot is able to make critical in-flight decisions to provide the safest transportation possible, without distractions due to the patient's condition. Behind the scenes, Medevac providers coordinate the complicated logistics involved in medical emergencies, such as dispatching appropriate teams and aircraft, communicating with local authorities, arranging admittance into hospitals and dealing with insurance company representatives.

The history of Medivac missions: A Medevac transfer was first performed in 1926 by the United States Army Air Corps. Using a specialized DeHaviland aircraft that had been constructed the previous year, patients were airlifted from Nicaragua to a French Army Base in Panama, located approximately one hundred and fifty miles away. Soon after, in 1928, the first civilian Medevac was completed as part of the Australian Royal Flying Doctor service, the first ever program for civilian air medical transport. Medevac services remain a vital link for people living in Australia's vast outback, enabling them to be transferred efficiently to larger cities when the need arises for urgent medical attention. Medevac services utilizing helicopters instead of fixed-wing aircraft were not introduced until 1944. Medevac services today: Medevac care can make the vital difference between a full recovery and long-term injury or illness. In the United States alone, it's estimated that over 500,000 individuals need the care of medevac services each year.