The role of aeromedical transportation in global disaster health care

ABSTRACT

There are several unique aspects of aeromedical transportation that render it vital to the overall management of disaster emergencies. Valuable time can be saved in moving medical expertise, supplies and equipment into the disaster area as well as in moving medical the hazardous area quickly and in large numbers. The plans for execution of the foregoing should include the use of military troop-transport aircraft that may be converted easily for patient transport. The United States Air Force aeromedical evacuation policies and management structure is reviewed with attention directed toward additions and adaptations of this system needed to allow it to serve global disaster response. Such a highly evolved system will require a governing boody with global reach for purpose of coordination and management. The resources for such a system currently exist but such an organization has yet to be formed (AU)