How An Air Ambulance Helps People Who Need Surgery
An air ambulance can serve many purposes. One of the most popular needs for an air ambulance is before, or after surgery. These, for the most part, are non-emergency situations, where a patient would like to travel to have an operation, but is too sick to travel on his/her own. A person may also need an air ambulance after a surgery, because they are medically unable to return home on their own. In any case this guide will help you understand how an air ambulance can help in the most common medical cases.
Transplant Travel and the Air Ambulance:
Timing is key to a successful air ambulance transplant mission. If you are on a waiting list for an organ you should speak with an air ambulance company the second you are put on a wait list. While we are more than equipped to fly our air ambulance on short notice, it’s always good to be prepared, especially if an organ or surgery may be needed in another state or country.
Letting us know about your needs ahead of time will ensure we will be ready to go when the phone call comes. We can also help you prepare by discussing finance options, including whether or not insurance can cover the air ambulance flight. We can also give you some tips on how to be prepared to leave as soon as the call comes to you. Having an air ambulance team to rely on is just as important on the ground as it is in the air. Travel Care takes pride on personal relationships and being available to take your call and guide you through the process.
Using an air ambulance gives you options. Rather than focusing on waiting for a transplant in a specific geographical range, using an air ambulance means you can get the transplant you need, regardless of where you live, or where the donor is located. If you live in an area that is remote, without decent health care access, you may find it difficult to find a donor for a transplant. You can broaden your search to anywhere in the world by utilizing an air ambulance.
Each commercial or private flight is staffed with a highly-experienced, professional medical staff. If a loved one needs special medical care, before or after a transplant, an air ambulance can give you piece of mind. Having a medical crew will ensure a comfortable flight and can help avoid any potential emergencies for the patient. Both private and commercial air ambulance flights are available based on your needs and comfort.
If you have the hospital, but need the organ, an air ambulance can be used to transport a heart to you. Travel Care Air offers state of the art equipment to ensure the safe transportation of an organ. Because we use the latest technology, you can count on us to make sure an organ needed for a transplant will arrive in perfect condition, anywhere in the world. This technology means you can be assured that all you need to do is rest and prepare for your surgery.
Heart Transplants:
In some cases a patient may be too sick to fly on their own to receive a new heart. If you have to travel to a hospital anywhere in the world an air ambulance can get you there worry-free. An air ambulance staff member will go over your medical history and your needs with your current doctor and act as the communicator with the hospital where you plan to have your surgery. We can also work with your family to fly them on the air ambulance with you, whether you are using a commercial or private air ambulance.
A heart transplant can bring a new lease on life for someone suffering with heart disease. In many cases you can return to work just several weeks after the operation. And within the last 20 years alone, the one-year survival rate has jumped to nearly 90% on all operations in America.
Post-Transplant Travel:
Depending on what kind of transplant you are having will depend on how soon you can travel. Typically for a lung transplant you can start to travel again as soon as you are feeling better. Extra precautions should always be taken, however. Using an air ambulance may be a good option if you are traveling after a lung transplant or any other transplant where you need to worry about infection. Infections after a transplant can cause major issues and having a trained air ambulance staff with you at all times during your travel can help keep your recovery on track.
Traveling after more involved transplants, like a heart transplantation can be more difficult. Many people use private flights to travel to get a heart transplant. Organ donation may be low based on the country so it makes sense to travel to a country with a higher rate or donors. After a transplant it may be necessary to use an air ambulance to return home. Travel after receiving a new heart takes common sense and having a trained staff of medical professionals with you will help you learn as you heal.
Children can bring an extra set of challenges with them. Many children need transplants (like a liver transplant) and parents will likely want to do everything possible to make sure their loved one can start being a kid again as soon as it is allowed by their doctors. Travel with children after a transplant is very possible, and even worth it for the family and for the child. It will take a little extra planning however. While the child may not need a medevac it is still a good idea to take phone numbers for his or her doctor just in case. You should also give your doctors your cell phone number in case they need to reach you. This is especially necessary for longer trips that will last longer than the normal period between blood tests.
How An Air Ambulance Helps Cancer Patients:
Cancer is the most dreaded disease. Fighting the disease is often a difficult fight and making sure you have the best care is key to winning the battle. air ambulance are often used by cancer patients who are in need of the best possible care. air ambulance can help in your time of need by taking you where you need to go for the best possible care. air ambulance can also help you connect with your family and friends to help you in the recovery process.
When battling cancer location is key. In some cases you will need to travel to get the treatment that you prefer. This is especially true if you are trying for a clinical trail that isn’t readily available in your general vicinity. Some trials do have multiple locations, so it is important to research before you pick the first place that you find. Always keep in mind that the more difficult the trial the more you want to find professionals who know what they are doing. Don’t opt for the lowest cost.
If you decide to travel an air ambulance can help you. You can look for private planes that will take you to your destination in a discrete, personalized setting. Private air ambulance services will help you be cared for in a controlled environment with staff and pilots that understand your needs. You can also opt for a commercial air ambulance. Even people who require oxygen or other medical needs can fly on commercial flights. Typically the air ambulance company you work with will help you book a commercial flight and their medical staff will accompany you.
Before you make any plans check your insurance to see what it will cover. In some cases part or all of your travel will be covered based on your insurance packages. Insurance can cover air ambulance, hotel stays, hospital stays and more. Always speak with a professional to find out what kind of insurance you have and what benefits are available to you.
How an Air Ambulance Helps Trauma Victims:
The “Golden Hour” is an industry term that highlights the importance of reaching trauma victims within the first hour. Studies have shown a better survival rate in trauma victims who receive help within the first hour after suffering the injury. An air ambulance can factor heavily into helping during the “Golden Hour.” If a trauma victim suffers the injury in a remote or rural area an air ambulance can be brought in to quickly start applying medical care.
The air ambulance can also reach a trauma victim if roads are impassable, or if there are no roads to begin with. Skiing or snowmobile accidents are prime examples of how an air ambulance can access areas traditional transportation can’t. The American Medical Association recently found that people transported to a trauma center via an air ambulance had a 16 percent greater chance of survival.
Another study by the National Association of State EMS Officials supports using an air ambulance for trauma victims. The study found that 81.4 million people have been helped during the “Golden Hour” by an air ambulance that otherwise would not have received proper care.
The State of Arizona took the air ambulance study even further. From January 2005 through December 2008 the Arizona Department of Health Services did a comprehensive look at how effective an air ambulance can be for trauma survival. 14 trauma centers took part in the study, which looked at severity of injuries and survival rates, among other factors.
The study found those transported via an air ambulance had a probability of survival of 88 percent. Of those patients, over half (55 percent) had an injury severity score of greater or equal to 15. The injury severity score measured how serious the injuries were, based on traditional trauma calculation methods. Nearly half of the patients (43 percent) transported via air ambulance went home within 24 hours.
An air ambulance can also be used in non-immediate situations for trauma victims. Trauma patients may also need an air ambulance well after the accident. In a lot of cases trauma victims in different countries will want to return home to help the recovery process. Being around family and friends creates a much needed support system.
Traveling After Surgery:
Your travel schedule will likely depend on what kind of surgery you have had. If you had an operation below the waste-line (like a knee replacement) you are more at risk for travel problems in the first four weeks. Traveling before you give your body time to heal can lead to blood clotting. While blood clotting occurs in about 1 in every 6,000 people traveling, the risk is increased after surgery, especially below the waste. That’s because your blood clotting system is working overtime to help heal your wounds from surgery.
The most important thing you can do before you travel is to talk to your doctor before your surgery. If you have a can’t miss trip that is within 4-6 weeks of your surgery let the doctor know and talk about a plan. The doctor may be able to prescribe you blood thinners that will help avoid clotting. The doctor may also recommend that you travel with an oxygen tank to help prevent clotting.
If you have to fly after surgery try to find shorter flights with longer layovers for especially long trips. Flying for a few hours followed by a period when you are able to walk around and stretch will help you avoid any problems. If you are unable to find flights and must travel in a car plan a lot of extra time. You should not stay in a cramped space for too long. Make multiple stops to get out of the car and walk around.
Humidity also factors into travel. If you are in a car and traveling in colder climates make sure the heat is running and the temperature is comfortable in the car. Humidity is out of your control on an airplane, however if you keep your body warm during the sitting periods you can limit your chance of problems.
If you must travel after surgery you also need to keep track of your body’s hydration. If you are traveling right after surgery you should be avoiding alcohol all together. Odds are you will be on medicine that prohibits you from drinking anyways. Drink lots of water and stay away from colas and coffee.
If you are obese or shorter or taller (under 5’2” or over 6’2”) you are more at risk than others for blood clotting. People who are pregnant and have varicose veins are also more at risk for clotting. One tip to keep the blood flowing in your body is to wear compression stockings that will provide pressure at your ankles. Most pharmacies sell these stockings that will keep blood flowing better in your lower extremities.