A medical evacuation, otherwise known as a medevac, is basically a process wherein injured persons in medical emergencies—e.g., trauma patients—are rapidly transported from the scene of an accident, disaster, or crime to the hospital using quick modes of transport such as a helicopter, ambulance, fixed-wing aircraft, rotor-wing aircraft, or a motor vehicle (particularly an ambulance) while providing prompt medical care on the way to the destination. The terms "airlifts" or even "LifeFlighted" are usually used by the news to describe this procedure, even though medevac is now common parlance among laymen too.

The majority of individuals who experience medical evacuation are taken to a special hospital that's also known as a trauma center because most patients who need medevac assistance are victims of traumatic incidents. Moreover, the term "medevac" has been misused before because of its ambiguity—that is, it doesn't usually determine as to whether air or ground assets are being used, and therefore it should be clarified whether the term pertains to motorized, ambulance-type transportation or air-charter-assisted rescue vehicles.

Medevac Disambiguation and History

The medical evacuation technique has its origins in the creation of the Australian Royal Flying Doctor Service, which was a practice founded in 1928 in order to bring patients to hospitals or doctors to patients in a swift manner since the wide and wild terrain of the Australian outback requires such prompt attention. Unavoidably, the incredible medial and military potential of this Australian tradition was fully realized with the evolution of the helicopter and the development of telephone-based communication.

The medical evacuation scenario that people are familiar with is the air charter type because of the amazing speed with which a medical emergency can be managed using that type of service. Besides, the image of a victim being airlifted for prompt medical assistance is a visual that truly leaves a good impression on everyone who witnesses it. Nevertheless, the ambulance and other motorized rescue vehicles still play a significant part in exhibiting what medical evacuation truly entails. Furthermore, motorized medevacs are a lot more practical and affordable when dealing with short-distance travel to a nearby hospital; they are also replete with equipment such as stretchers, CPR equipment, ECG and monitoring unit, medication, and ventilators.

Medevac Air Charter Services

Medical emergencies that occur in rugged terrain as well as areas that require traversing long distances before the nearest hospital could be reached (such as the ones found in Africa or Australia) are best handled using air charters or helicopter charters. The air ambulance is a particularly beneficial aircraft that can be used during situations when a normal ambulance isn't enough. These related operations are called "Aeromedical" as well. The air ambulance should be as well stocked as a typical ambulance, with the added advantage of faster travel and prompt medical aid even before arriving at the hospital.

With the ever increasing clamor for medical staff, hardware, food, and medical supply in areas wrought with strife, wars, and natural disasters, the need for air charter services is greater than ever. To keep up with this need, the Samitivej Srinakarin Hospitals have addressed this issue by providing timely air charter services for the sake of helping children who are physically or mentally incapacitated wherever they are in the world. This medevac unit includes 24-hour air ambulance services for pediatric and neonatal care, domestic and international flight options, and medical equipment such as ventilators and multi-parameter monitors.