Extra experience gives EAA medics the edge

Luxembourg, 20 November 2019 - WHEN European Air Ambulance teams are called into action, clients can be sure they will receive the very best service and value-for-money with outstanding medical care for patients.

European Air Ambulance only recruits highly-qualified, experienced and clinically-active medical staff, who undergo continuous training in critical care and emergency medicine - and the teams have an additional level of experience that sets them apart from other air ambulance companies.

Not only do they carry out hundreds of fixed-wing missions every year on EAA’s fleet of dedicated air ambulance aircraft; they also work on HEMS rotor-wing missions for EAA’s parent company Luxembourg Air Rescue (LAR).

LAR operates three rescue helicopters in Luxembourg and Germany – and by working regularly on HEMS missions, EAA’s medics gain crucial expertise which helps inform and improve the services they provide to clients and patients in their care.

EAA medical supervisor Dr Jörn Adler explained: “As many of our patients are intensive care patients, unexpected complications can occur at any time during transport – from respiratory and ventilation problems to circulatory problems, septic symptoms, acute cardiac events and neurological diseases.

“The rescue helicopters are not only used to treat traumas, but also serve as a fast shuttle for doctors and paramedics to reach the scene.

“As a result, nurses on HEMS missions must not only have clinical training, but also be paramedics with a high level of competence in assisting in the treatment of acute preclinical settings. Meanwhile doctors must not only be specialists in anaesthesia and intensive life support medicine, but also have an additional qualification as emergency physicians expert in trauma management.”

He continued: “Transfer flights in an ambulance aircraft are often carried out under more controlled conditions – therefore by working regularly on the rescue helicopters, European Air Ambulance’s doctors and nurses can maintain their skills in all aspects of treatment for critically ill patients.

“In the end, this allows the crew to react better to any unexpected medical developments on board our air ambulances, which is good for the safety of the passengers entrusted to us.”

Patrick Schomaker, Director of Sales and Marketing at European Air Ambulance, added: “There is a real advantage in our medical crews working on rotor-wing missions as well. It sets us apart from other air ambulance companies whose staff only work on fixed-wing missions, so don’t have the breadth of experience and training.”