Lifesaving Aids Provided by Medical Equipment
Modernizing Air Rescue: Pioneering Lifesaving Equipment
For the last ten years, air rescue has evolved significantly from being a niche emergency service to a vital component in the overall rescue chain. Thanks to technological advancements, extended service hours, and a dedicated workforce, air rescue now operates day and night, even in poor weather conditions. As stated by Marco Trefanitz, Managing Director of ÖAMTC Air Rescue, these changes have led to an increase in deployment figures.
High-Tech Saving Lives on the Go
In 2021 alone, ÖAMTC air rescuers carried out 1,286 night deployments and 741 airlifts from rugged terrain. The seamless interplay of rapid response times, highly trained personnel, and cutting-edge medical equipment made these achievements possible. KommR Mag. Alexander Hayn, MBA, Chairman of the Medical Products Trade in the Vienna Chamber of Commerce emphasized that modern medical devices in air rescue must be light, small, and comply with strict aviation standards to ensure smooth operation and minimal interference with helicopter electronics.
Life-Saving Equipment Over the Years
Some of the most influential innovations in air rescue over the past decade include the introduction of mobile ultrasound devices for internal diagnostics, videolaryngoscopes for safe intubations, and resuscitation support devices tailored for longer flight routes. These advancements have made it possible to provide the best possible patient care throughout transport, even when hospitals have become specialized centers requiring longer transport times.
No Room for Error
The stakes are high in air rescue, and any failure in medical equipment can have drastic consequences. To mitigate this risk, ÖAMTC air rescue follows strict maintenance cycles, maintains backup devices, and has a rigorous quality monitoring system in place. Reliable medical technology suppliers prioritize rapid and reliable service. This unwavering commitment to safety and reliability is evident in the continued reduction of mortality rates for internal emergency cases - over the past decade, the rate has dropped significantly from over 30% to under 4%.
Medical Technology's Economic Impact
Across Europe, around 750,000 medical devices are available for treating patients and operating healthcare facilities, generating an estimated €4.6 billion in revenue annually for the Austrian medical device market alone. The success of air rescue and modern medical technology is a team effort, involving well-trained staff, efficient partner organizations, quick decision-making, and a robust hospital infrastructure.
- The integration of mobile ultrasound devices, videolaryngoscopes, and resuscitation support devices in air rescue equipment over the past decade has revolutionized health-and-wellness, enabling medical-conditions to be diagnosed and treated effectively during fitness-and-exercise, even during long flight routes.
- With strict aviation standards ensuring smooth operation and minimal interference with helicopter electronics, the United States has been a significant contributor to the development of lightweight and compact medical equipment, crucial for lifesaving therapies-and-treatments during air rescue operations.
- In the United States, the use of modern medical devices in air rescue has not only resulted in increased deployment figures but also contributed to a significant drop in mortality rates for internal emergency cases, underscoring the economic impact of these technologies in health-and-wellness, medical-conditions, and overall well-being.
