Air Ambulance launched in Tamilnadu

Coimbatore, India June 26: A good news for patients. Coimbatore-based Ganga Hospital has launched India's first air ambulance service and would be run by the hospital. Air Chief Marshal B.S. Dhanoa, Chief of Air Staff, Indian Air Force, on Sunday has officially launched Ganga Air Ambulance (GAA).

The helicopter unveiled will provide emergency medical services in the region and will airlift the emergency patients and will be admitted to the hospital. The main features of the helicopter are

* It can carry 2 two patients at a time.

* Contains emergency medical devices and supports such as stretcher suction unit
defibrillator, oxygen provision, pulse, and pressure monitoring equipment.

* Passengers can be airlifted from temporary helipads in districts.

* Patients will be accompanied by a doctor, a paramedic, and an attendee when he is airlifted.

* Hospital has built its own helipad for landing.

Doctors say that patients from southern states can avail the service for emergency medical service. The services offered are

* Handling trauma cases
* Cardiac arrests
* Neurological
* Paediatric emergency cases
* Quick transportation of harvested organs.

Finally, the experts say that many patients cannot avail these facilities because the hospital charges RS 1 lakh for an 1 hour of helicopter ambulance service.