When having your loved one moved from a remote location to a safer one with better access to medical care, it may be tempting to hire an air ambulatory service right away. However, these services should typically be reserved for true emergency medical transport. Not sure how to tell if you’re dealing with an emergency? Use these tips, so you don’t “falter”:
Fear
Fear is the biggest reason that most people call for medical transport in the first place – and it’s also why many emergency medical personnel call for air transport. They fear that they may not be equipped to handle a patient’s needs, but it’s very likely that they are. Don’t let fear be the only reason you make that call.
Access
Can your location be accessed with traditional ground-based ambulatory services? If not, calling for air services may be your best – and only – option.
Laziness
It can be easy to call for emergency medical transport when you simply don’t feel like helping a patient yourself. This goes for both friends and family members and first responders; when you don’t feel like accompanying and attending to a patient yourself, the first reaction many people have is to call for emergency services like air-based transport. If you can provide services, though, it’s best to do so, rather than risk extended response times by waiting for other providers of those services to arrive.
Time
Will calling for emergency medical transport by air really reduce the time necessary for transporting your loved one to the medical facility? If you live in an area where ground-based transport is prevalent and accessible, the answer will almost always be no.
Extraction
If your loved one requires physical extraction from their current location by skilled, experienced medical professionals, air transport may be best for them. This is because the professionals that staff these services are typically more capable of these kinds of rescues than any other medical professional, given the nature of their experience.
Real Time
This is perhaps the most important factor to consider. Will your call to an air-based service actually save your loved one any time in getting medical help? Often, these services are slower to arrive than ground-based services. Think about that before calling. Your loved one’s life may just be at stake.
