From stories of travellers getting sick while hiking to horrifying accounts of tourists experiencing medical emergencies while on travels, there are plenty of reasons why you might be curious about what medical evacuation is and its significance. Although it is imperative, especially for soldiers, travellers, and the like, not many people are aware of what medical evacuation is and when it is an appropriate response to a situation.
If you are one of these people and are eager to learn more about medical evacuation, read on as this article tackles the exact meaning of medical evacuation, how it evolved through time, and when it is proper.
The Meaning of Medical Evacuation
The term “medical evacuation” is typically defined as the transportation of an individual, usually with the use of an air ambulance, to the nearest medical facility where they can receive the medical care they need, such as a clinic or hospital. Others also define it as the prompt and effective transport of en-route care by qualified medical personnel to an ill or injured person.
In its broadest sense, medical evacuation is designed to transport ill or injured individuals from a scene of an accident, a battlefield, or a rural healthcare institution that lacks proper medical resources to a hospital with better facilities and equipment.
Medical evacuations can be as easy as transporting an individual from one place to a nearby one by ground ambulance, or as complicated as evacuating them by air ambulance from one country to another. The cost of air ambulances is generally calculated based on a variety of factors, such as the patient’s condition, the severity of their illness or injury, and the distance to be travelled.
How Medical Evacuation Evolved Through Time
Medical evacuation had been one of the numerous general duties carried out by the air forces transport unit as early as 1915. It was during this time, which marked the onset of World War I, that a French aviator successfully transported a sick serviceman from Serbia to a secure location via air travel, marking the first-ever medical evacuation operation.
As time went by, injured soldiers were later transported by air ambulances from Japan to Australia at the time of the Korean War, from military scenes in Afghanistan and Iraq to the United States, and from Russia to its nearby countries at the present time. As such, medical evacuations are inherently associated with conflict by many people.
However, medical evacuation is also demanded beyond the military context. For instance, it can be required when a particular medical condition has no way of being treated adequately in the current location of the patient. In that case, medical evacuation involves the transfer of the patient to a facility that delivers a higher level of care.
When Medical Evacuation is a Proper Response
Based on its definition, it may seem as if medical evacuation is only an appropriate response for an emergency that involves a wounded soldier, a seriously ill or injured traveller, or an extreme athlete who met an accident. However, you do not need to fall into any of these classifications to demand a medical evacuation.
Chartering an air ambulance is an option if you have a medical condition that cannot be effectively treated on-site or requires extended in-patient hospitalisation that is not available locally. Moreover, if you are involved in an accident, remaining in the location where it occurred may pose a threat to your health, warranting prompt medical evacuation.
Conclusion
In today’s world, it’s becoming increasingly clear how crucial medical evacuation is, especially as people can face traumatic or life-threatening incidents while away from home at any time and any place. While military use initially drove the need for medical evacuation, its purpose has expanded beyond that. To determine whether your situation requires medical evacuation, it’s essential to comprehend what it entails and its purpose.
If you seek the most proficient and reliable medical evacuation services in Singapore, EMA Global is the definitive service provider that guarantees unparalleled performance. With a range of top-tier medical evacuation and repatriation services, executed by highly qualified and seasoned medical professionals, EMA Global prides itself on delivering exceptional quality. Contact us today to discover more about our specialised services.
