The UK’s air ambulance charities collectively attend 45,000 lifesaving missions every year. Their dedicated teams provide critical emergency medical care, which often makes the difference between life and death in the most challenging situations.
National Air Ambulance Week is a time to honour the remarkable individuals behind these operations and raise awareness and funds to help them continue their critical work, which receives no day-to-day government funding.
As we celebrate this week, we look back at some incidents where air ambulance services have saved lives and consider how technology, including asset management software, supports their invaluable work.
Recognising UK Air Ambulance Missions
The 7/7 Terror Attacks
The London Air Ambulance Charity has attended many severe incidents across the capital, including the Grenfell Tower fire, the Potters Bar rail crash, Westminster and London Bridge terror attacks, and the terror attacks on the 7th of July 2005.
One of the most devastating incidents in recent British history, these suicide bombings caused 52 fatalities and more than 770 injuries, according to data from the British Transport Police.
The London Air Ambulance service has advanced trauma teams consisting of senior doctors and paramedic teams that attend to critically injured patients.
During this incident, 27 doctors were deployed to the four bomb sites, along with paramedics, treating and triaging more than 700 patients and providing life-saving pre-hospital care. The aircraft also transported medication and other vital supplies to key locations.
The rapid response and advanced medical capabilities of staff were vital in managing the crisis and saving lives amidst the chaos.
The charity raised a record-breaking £1.3 million at their 2024 gala this February and are currently appealing for funding to help replace their helicopters.
Rescuing a Tourist on a Remote Scottish Island
The Scottish air ambulance services are crucial in providing emergency care to residents of the many remote islands around the country and of course, on the mainland itself.
In one particular case – which marked the 5,000th rapid response provided by Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) – the life of a tourist was saved after he collapsed on the western Isle of Luing while hillwalking.
There’s no medical response available on the island, which is home to less than 200 residents. On receiving the emergency call, the SCAA redirected a helicopter that was on a training flight over Oban. The paramedics provided vital treatment and transported the patient to Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, a short 25-minute journey. The local fire service also attended the incident and provided assistance.
2022 saw record-breaking demand for SCAA, with 38% of cases involving traumatic injuries and around 65% of patients being flown to major trauma centres in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee.
Records were broken again in 2023; SCAA callout statistics state that the total number of calls that year was 948, and an increase in cardiac-related emergencies was observed.
This reminds us that the work of such charities is crucial not just for accidents, but for providing essential care for patients with a range of health conditions who don’t have access to medical support like those in urbanised areas.
Wales Air Ambulance Rescues a Hiker on Mount Snowdon
Wales Air Ambulance has now surpassed 50,000 missions since its foundation in 2001. The organisation has recently highlighted a particular case that occurred in 2022 when hiker, Joshua Tayman, slipped over the edge of a waterfall and fell 50 feet.
Thankfully, he was not hiking alone; when his companion found him face down in the water, he performed CPR. Shortly after, a passerby who was a doctor took over while the emergency services were on their way.
A road ambulance arrived 10 minutes later, followed by Wales Air Ambulance which transported a Critical Care Consultant and Critical Care Practitioner to the scene.
Joshua was move from the side of the waterfall, which was tricky to access; medics then administered a general anaesthetic and inserted a breathing tube connected to a ventilator. They also gave him a blood transfusion, immobilised his spine and applied a pelvic binder.
This type of care was possible thanks to the collaboration between Wales Air Ambulance and the Emergency Medical Retrieval Transfer Service (EMRTS), their NHS Wales medical partner.
After his state was stabilised, medics wrapped him in a warming blanket and flew him to the Royal Stoke University Hospital Major Trauma Centre, after which he was transferred to intensive care.
Thankfully, Joshua survived, was discharged six days later and went on to have a full recovery. Like many other patients rescued by air ambulance charities, he went on to fundraise for the organisation.
This incident illustrates how air ambulances can provide early and advanced interventions that increase the chances of patient survival. The charity has to raise £11.2 million per year to continue their operations and has launched their ’50,000 missions’ appeal to mark their latest milestone.
The Role of EAM Software & Other Technology in Supporting Air Ambulance Services
Technology plays a vital role in supporting the missions of air ambulance crews. Various systems are required to ensure that air ambulances are always ready to respond to emergencies and equipped with the necessary tools and medical supplies, including enterprise asset management software.
Emergency Services Asset Management Software
An asset management system for emergency services helps responders to be prepared at all times and ensures smooth and effective operations. Here’s how.
Inventory Management
Effective inventory management is vital for air ambulance services, ensuring that all medical equipment is available and in perfect working order. An EAM system enables the real-time tracking of inventory levels and locations, and the automated reordering of supplies.
Equipment Maintenance
Asset management software with maintenance management features (aka CMMS/ computerised maintenance management software) helps track asset health and asset performance, ensuring that medical equipment is always in working order.
Regular maintenance is essential for detecting defects early and ensuring that assets do not malfunction at critical moments and jeopardise patient care. It also enables accurate asset lifecycle management, ensuring timely asset disposal and replacement.
What’s more, mobile CMMS software enables technicians to receive maintenance alerts and update equipment status from anywhere, enabling flexible and streamlined maintenance management.
In addition, proactive inventory management and maintenance processes minimise the need for emergency repairs and reduce the associated costs.
Compliance and Reporting
Compliance with regulations and documentation requirements is crucial for air ambulance services. Enterprise asset management software generates comprehensive reports on maintenance data and the usage of medical equipment and other critical assets, ensuring that air ambulance services are compliant and prepared for audits.
Data Analytics
Enterprise asset management systems collect valuable operational and asset data; combined with analytics tools, it can improve efficiency, performance, and ultimately, patient outcomes.
Other Vital Technologies for Air Ambulance Services
As well as asset tracking and maintenance planning software, here are some other critical technologies and software systems worth noting:
- Dispatch systems: CAD systems are central to the operation of air ambulance services, allowing staff to manage the dispatch of helicopters and track their location and status in real time.
- Electronic Patient Care Reporting (ePCR) Systems: ePCR systems are used to document patient care from the moment paramedics arrive on the scene through to the transfer of care at a hospital.
- Electronic Health Records (EHR) integration: Integration with EHR systems ensures that patient data is seamlessly transferred to hospital systems, improving continuity of care.
- Fleet Management Systems: These systems manage the air ambulance fleet, including aircraft maintenance, scheduling, and logistics.
- Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and satellite communication: GIS technology is used for mapping and spatial analysis, which is critical for route planning and locating emergency sites while taking into account terrain, weather, and airspace restrictions. Of course, satellite technology ensures reliable communication in remote or underserved areas where traditional networks may not be available, ensuring crews can maintain contact with dispatch centres and medical professionals.
- Telemedicine systems: In cases where consultants are not present, these systems enable remote consultation and diagnosis, allowing onboard medical personnel to connect with specialists in real time.
- Drones: Newer technologies such as drones are now helping the emergency services prepare and respond more effectively. Drones can quickly deliver medical equipment to support ground teams and when fitted with cameras, can provide an early view of the terrain and incident site.
Conclusion
National Air Ambulance Week is an opportunity to celebrate the heroic efforts of air ambulance services and recognise the critical role they play in saving lives. From responding to major incidents like the 7/7 bombings to rescuing individuals in remote and challenging locations, air ambulance teams provide vital medical care in the most difficult circumstances.
Behind the scenes, technology such as cloud based maintenance systems and asset management software support these lifesaving efforts, ensuring all equipment is ready and reliable. It also automates many administrative tasks and improves maintenance operations, freeing up resources so that charities can allocate staff in more impactful ways.
At Idhammar Systems, we provide state-of-the-art enterprise asset management solutions to the emergency services, supporting their critical operations. To learn more or request a demo, contact us today.
