Re-Introduction of the Medical Emergency Helicopter Service in Oudtshoorn

"Advanced Life Support services in the Southern Cape will receive a huge boost from Monday, thanks to the re-introduction of the medical emergency helicopter service by the Health Department of the Western Cape and the SA Red Cross Air Mercy Service" min Pierre Uys said today.

Speaking at the opening of the newly built hangar at Oudtshoorn Airport, min Uys welcomed the return of the service, which plays a vital role in pre-hospital emergency care.

He thanked the people of Oudtshoorn and surrounding areas for their patience over the past few months during the interruption of the service, which was launched in June 2005.

He also acknowledged the important role of the Oudtshoorn AeroClub and Oudtshoorn Municipality, who assisted with the building of the new hangar.

The emergency helicopter service will provide Advanced Life Support for critically ill or injured patients, effectively cutting the time of patient transport by road by about two-thirds and providing the very best chance for patient recovery.

It is especially useful in providing access to inaccessible areas and serving rural communities.

From June to October 2005, the service flew 110 hours and airlifted 62 patients to hospital, responding to a variety of incident scenes, such as motor vehicle accidents, head injuries, premature birth, abdominal/spinal injuries, cardiac arrest, seizures and poly trauma.

The AS 350 B2 "Squirrel" helicopter is equipped with a state-of-the-art mobile intensive care unit and crewed by trained Advanced Life Support paramedics.

According to John Stone, Chief Executive Officer of the AMS, this particular aircraft is much faster than the previous B0105 and has longer endurance capabilities.

This makes the aircraft the ideal choice for covering an approximate 200 km radius from its home base at Oudtshoorn Airport. It will service Beaufort West, Calitzdorp, Heidelberg, Knysna, Ladismith, Laingsburg, Leeu-Gamka, Mossel Bay, Plettenberg Bay, Prince Albert, Riversdale and Uniondale.

Oudtshoorn was chosen because of its ease of access to referral hospitals and its close proximity to the N1 and N2 highways, which have a notoriously high motor vehicle accident rate.

Highly experienced AMS Pilot Corné Schabort (3800 flying hours) said that he was very excited to revive this crucial service.

His sentiments were echoed by AMS paramedic, Nathan Murphy who said, "it will be good to fly again and help service the local community."

Corné and Nathan will be joined by pilot Hendrik "Bees" Marais who flew previously for the SA Police Service (9500 flying hours).

Celebrating 40 years of aero-medical service in February 2006, the AMS reaches out to 36,000 patients each year and provides air ambulance, rescue and flying doctor health outreach services across South Africa.

Enquiries:
Min Pierre Uys: 0824555144
Herman v.d. Westhuizen: 0827729161

Re-Introduction of Emergency Helicopter Service in Southern Cape Fact Sheet
Date Of Issue: 30 January 2006
The AS 350 B2 "Squirrel" helicopter
Specs: Manufactured in 1999. Eurocopter.

Approximately R11 million.

It was purchased from Puerto Rico in February 2004 and has been based at the AMS base at Cape Town International since 3 May 2004.

The AMS owns the aircraft. The operational costs are partly recovered from the Health Department of the Western Cape Provincial Government, who contribute a monthly retainer and call-out fee for services rendered. Services are also rendered to clients of private sector medical insurances companies.

The AS 350 B2 helicopter is equipped with a state-of-the-art mobile intensive care unit and a self-guided stretcher loading system that enables the crew to load the patient directly into the aircraft at the scene. A medical tower holds the electrical, oxygen and vacuum outlets and control switches, as well as a multi-parameter patient monitor, defibrillator and external pacer.

A typical air ambulance operation includes one pilot, two medical personnel and a patient.

The AMS operates nine aircraft - 5 fixed wing and 4 helicopters - across three provinces.

• Cape Town Base - 1 fixed wing, 1 helicopter and Oudtshoorn Base - 1 helicopter
• Durban Base - 2 fixed wing, 1 helicopter and Richards Bay Base - 1 helicopter
• Kimberley Base - 2 fixed wing

Celebrating 40 years of aero-medical service in February 2006, the AMS reaches out to 36,000 patients each year and provides air ambulance, rescue and flying doctor and rural health outreach.