Air ambulance crashes are not a new phenomenon in the United States. In fact, one of the first recorded air ambulance crashes happened in July of 1937 when a Douglas DC-2 carrying two patients and three crew members crashed in Newark, New Jersey. All five people on board were killed.
Since that time, there have been dozens of other air ambulance crashes with various degrees of severity. In some cases, everyone on board has been killed while in others, there have been survivors. Reasons for these accidents have included everything from weather conditions to pilot error.
One of the most recent and deadliest air ambulance crashes happened in 2013 near Frisco, Colorado. An EC-130 medical helicopter crashed while attempting to take off in strong winds, killing all four people on board.
As medical technology advances and more people rely on air ambulances to get the care they need, it is important to study these accidents and work to prevent them from happening in the future. By doing so, we can help save lives.
Safety Aspects of Air Ambulance Services
When it comes to air ambulance safety, there are a variety of regulations in place to ensure that these vital medical transport services are as safe as possible. Below are the aspects that they cover.
Certification: One of the most important aspects of air ambulance safety is the certification of the aircraft and crew. All aircraft used for medical transport must meet stringent safety standards, and crews must be properly trained and certified in order to operate them. In addition, all medical personnel aboard air ambulances must be properly trained and licensed to provide care.
Equipment: Another important aspect of air ambulance safety is the type of equipment that is allowed on board. Only certain types of medical equipment are approved for use on air ambulances, and this equipment must be properly secured during flight. This ensures that it will be available when needed and will not pose a hazard to the patients or crew.
Reporting: Finally, strict reporting requirements help to ensure that any incidents or accidents involving air ambulances are properly investigated. These reports help guide future safety efforts and can help prevent.
Suffice to say that air ambulance services today are much safer, thanks to the advancement in aviation technology and the regulations that compel them to adopt certain safety norms.
