Past, present and future of air ambulances

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  • Kohama Akitsugu
    Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health and Welfare, Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare

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  • ドクターヘリの過去，現在，未来

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The present study overviews the past, present and future of medically equipped and physician-staffed air ambulances as a part of the emergency medical services (EMS). The operation of helicopters carrying physicians to emergencies has a long history; however, as a national government operation, Germany began air ambulances for EMS in 1968, so this aspect of the history is comparatively recent. In Japan, Kawasaki Medical School carried out a one-day trial flight in 1982 as the first operation of the air medical program in Japan, and the government began to operate air ambulances on April 1st in 2001 as part of the EMS response. At present, there are 23 air bases in 19 prefectures to provide critical care to sick and injured people. On June 27, 2007, the “Act on Special measures for Ensuring Emergency Medical Care using Helicopters” was established across all prefectural government, which are now considering the introduction of air ambulances. At least one air ambulance per medical care center in every prefecture is expected within the next 4-5 years. In the future, it is hoped that physician-staffed ground ambulances would be deployed at city areas and as many patients as possible will receive life-saving treatment in the selective environment between the physician-staffed ground ambulance and physician-staffed air ambulance depending on the needs of the patients.

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