LIFE-FLIGHT FOR CHILDREN
Traffic congestion set to rise dramatically over the coming years!
Why Merlyn’s is needed
The inter-hospital, paediatric air service the charity plans to provide will be unique in this country. There are no existing services in the British Isles offering dedicated, in-flight intensive care facilities.
Many people think this service is provided by air ambulances - but it is not. They only attend accidents/emergencies and do not fly at night. Their interiors are similar to road ambulances and don't offer the facilities or space needed for inter-hospital transfers. The next of kin is unable to accompany the child due to lack of space. Air ambulances only operate in their home areas and not outside their specific operational zones.
In the case of extreme emergencies, MOD helicopters are used to transfer patients. These are most unsuitable as they vibrate massively and have no seats – stretchers are placed on the floor and secured by nets/cargo straps.
Journeys by road ambulance can be long and traumatic.
The inter-
Many people think this service is provided by air ambulances -
In the case of extreme emergencies, MOD helicopters are used to transfer patients. These are most unsuitable as they vibrate massively and have no seats – stretchers are placed on the floor and secured by nets/cargo straps.
Figures show that 71% of households have one or more vehicles and with congestion set to rise by 26% over coming years, the situation will only get worse. The problem is exacerbated by the constant deterioration of roads, and traffic calming measures, which all add to trauma-related problems ground transportation entails.
Recently, a little boy aged nine years suffered 90% burns in a house fire. He was transported between hospitals by road ambulance. The journey was long, traumatic and stressful for the youngster who, tragically, later died.
For someone with such serious burns, the journey by road ambulance would have been very painful. Merlyn's wants to alleviate this suffering by offering the fastest, smoothest and most sophisticated form of transport possible.
Recently, a little boy aged nine years suffered 90% burns in a house fire. He was transported between hospitals by road ambulance. The journey was long, traumatic and stressful for the youngster who, tragically, later died.
For someone with such serious burns, the journey by road ambulance would have been very painful. Merlyn's wants to alleviate this suffering by offering the fastest, smoothest and most sophisticated form of transport possible.