National Air Ambulance conducted a 3 patient medevac flight last month from Central America to the northeast U.S. The patients were critical, all having 3rd degree burns and were being transferred to a burn unit in New England for further care. National provided a team of ER Flight Physicians, Critical Care Flight Nurses, and a Respiratory Therapist for the flight.
National Air Ambulance has conducted a number of dual stretcher patient transfers over the past 30 years, utilizing their Learjet 35 fleet, but this tri patient transfer was a first for the organization. "This was the largest medical team we have utilized on one aircraft, with a number of intricate details that were arranged to properly care for three critical patients at once.We had to ensure that the flight would operate on schedule and go smoothly and we were all very pleased with the outcome," said George Martinez, Director of Flight Programs for National. The flight began at National Air Ambulance’s base on Ft. Lauderdale International, loading equipment into Phoenix Air's specially configured Gulfstream GIII which is capable of carrying up to 5 critical patients at one time. The flight departed to Central America on schedule where the patients were picked up from the treating hospital by National's team and were taken by dual ambulances to the airport for a rapid departure back to the U.S. The flight was very successful and the patients arrived on schedule to the specialty burn unit for further treatment.
