Madrid Renewed Medical Helicopter Service

Comunidad de Madrid, November 05, 2020 - The Community of Madrid has renewed the two medical helicopters of SUMMA 112 (the Medical Emergency Service of the Community of Madrid) used to attend to emergencies that occur in the region.

The new model of these aircraft, which came into operation on November 1, is the Airbus H145. It is a state-of-the-art helicopter specially designed and conceived for medical work, both for ergonomics, patient safety and versatility. They are, in short, two helicopters with the highest performance, prepared to intervene in any environment and place in the Madrid geography.

Some of these characteristics are, for example, having a rear door, which is very useful for moving the stretcher - supports a weight of up to 250 kilograms, has a folding wheel system and allows you to carry a vacuum mattress for the polytraumatized patient- or of the highly complex incubator in the case of neonates that require it, as well as for the use of medical equipment and oxygen systems, which can also be managed from the inside.

Also the fact that the tail rotor (known as fenestron) is enclosed, serves to increase safety when the aircraft lands in confined spaces thus reducing risk of the loading and unloading operations of patients and healthcare personnel, even with the rotors running.

In addition, the aircraft are equipped with all the electromedical equipment that SUMMA 112 professionals work with, such as mechanical cardiocompressor devices for advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation, defibrillator monitor, emergency ventilator, perfusion pumps, etc., equivalent to that available in an Mobile Trauma, in an even smaller space than these. The cabin of this model of helicopter, however, is spacious and has a volume of 8 cubic meters.

They also have a duplicate independent and secure communication system with the SUMMA 112 working frequencies and intercom systems that allow communication between aeronautical and medical personnel. It is also a very quiet helicopter, which improves the quality of the transfer by minimizing noise stress.

The SUMMA 112 emergency helicopters are also characterized by housing a large health crew compared to other air health transport systems in Spain and abroad, made up of a pilot, doctor, nurse and Health Emergency Technician. They all travel seated and have their own space. The SUMMA 112 health personnel assigned to the helicopters are conducting a training course to familiarize themselves with the technical and operational characteristics of the new aircraft model. In addition, they are offered the possibility of doing one hour of maneuver training a week.

Life-threatening situations

SUMMA 112 has two medical helicopters operating every day of the year, in addition to the rest of the mobile emergency resources by road (28 mobile ICUs and 16 Rapid Intervention Vehicles). The helicopters are used when there is a vital risk or the patient has a compromised fundamental organ. Helicopters guarantee equity in healthcare provision since they allow that, whatever the place of the emergency within the region, all inhabitants have quick access to the most suitable hospital for this pathology.

SUMMA 112 helicopter services was launched on May 29, 2020 with contract valued 2,571,300 euros, to the company Eliance Helicopter Global Services SL with two Airbus H145 at the Las Rozas and Lozoyuela bases.

The SUMMA 112 helicopters have carried out a total of 516 interventions so far in 2020 and have transferred 176 patients to different hospitals.

COVID-19

In addition, these aircraft have procedures, tools and devices to favor the transport of infectious-contagious patients, including patients with COVID-19, such as the transport capsule and a barrier between the cockpit and the cabin. In this way, air medical transport is guaranteed in all aspects of safety, both for the mission and for the patient and, therefore, for the medical crews. In the event of a transfer due to a pathology that requires action, the immediate cleaning and disinfection procedure is started for it.

After cleaning the surfaces with specific products expressly authorized by the aircraft manufacturer, a self-dispersible aerosol is used inside that allows to generate a guaranteed disinfection by nebulization for any germ, including viruses in all spaces, no matter how small, regardless its location. This product is guaranteed and certified for use in medical transport aircraft.