THE National Health Authority (NHA) plans to operate the air ambulance service round the clock from September following the purchase of two MD 902 helicopters, which proved to be the most suitable for Qatar’s hot weather. The performance of the LifeFlight ambulance service has been proved a success during the trial run from last October until April this year, registering the quickest response to an emergency situation in the Industrial Area in a record time of seven minutes. The trial period showed that 70% of the patients transported by the helicopters were victims of road accidents, the source said. “LifeFlight is normally airborne within 3-4 minutes of dispatch. The response time depends on weather. However, it can travel from Doha to Ruwais in 30 minutes,” a spokesman said. “Overall, the helicopter reduces the time taken from the moment the call for help is received through on the ground treatment by the paramedic to transportation and arrival at the hospital by up to two thirds.” LifeFlight is dispatched in critical and major cases outside Doha. “The priority is to get the expert paramedic to the patient as quickly as possible to start treatment.” According to statistics of the six-month trial, the ambulance helicopter flew some 427 missions where it transported to the hospital 130 persons involved in road accidents and 54 patients for various other medical emergencies. The project is being conducted in collaboration between the National Health Authority and the Gulf Helicopters, which provides pilots and maintenance services for the copters. The NHA is training more paramedics to cope with the expected pressure on the service when it became operational for 24 hours a day in September. LifeFlight will be an integral and crucial part of Qatar’s emergency medical service in the future, the official added. - Arrayah Al Raya

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