Apollo Hospitals extends Air Ambulance services to Mysuru

Mysuru: Apollo Hospitals has announced the extension of its air ambulance services network to Mysuru through its current hubs in Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

Several people in India do not get medical attention within the ‘Golden Hour’ which is very crucial in saving lives. Apollo’s air ambulance service will address the emergency medical need of people who are on the outskirts and far from the city limits.

In the last one month, this is the second initiative undertaken by Apollo for Mysuru after launching Karnataka’s first state-of-the-art gastroenterology unit for performing rare and unusual procedures.

Each of the Apollo air ambulances will be manned by a full-fledged medical crew trained in critical pre-hospital care protocols to address emergency victims and critically-ill patients. The launch is in partnership with Bengaluru-based Air Aviators Rescue who will provide helicopters and the logistics support to Apollo Hospitals.

The air ambulance was launched recently by Dr. J. Radhakrishnan, Principal Secretary to Government of Tamil Nadu, Health and Family Welfare Department and Dr. Prathap Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, in the presence of Dr. Preetha Reddy, Vice-Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group and Capt. Arun Sharma, Managing Director, Aviators Air Rescue Pvt. Ltd.

Apollo Hospitals pioneered air ambulance emergency services in the country way back in 2003 with subsequent launch of these services in Delhi and Bengaluru in 2004 and 2007.

Speaking on the occasion, Prathap Reddy said, “We have always believed all Indians across metros and smaller cities and towns must receive international quality care. It gives me immense satisfaction extending this service to Mysuru. With this launch I hope that we have increased the chances of patients in smaller towns and cities getting medical attention they deserve in the ‘Golden Hour’.

Unlike other helicopters, these helicopters are built exclusively for transporting emergency victims. The medical crew for all transfers is from Apollo Hospitals. A set of trained and qualified emergency physicians and paramedics have been specially trained for air evacuations and these teams will be on all air-transfers. These services offer support to all types of accident and emergency patients including paediatric patients.

HOW IT WORKS

• Patient’s relatives can call Apollo Emergency Response Service 1066 and provide primary information regarding emergency.
• A doctor will assess the medical condition and provide on-call first-aid advice to manage the patient till medical help arrives.
• The doctor will approve the mode of transportation (ground / air ambulance) and will alert the emergency dispatch management unit.
• Ground ambulance provides onsite primary medical care and shifts patient to the nearest stabilisation centre to preserve the ‘Golden Hour.’
• Ground ambulance transfers the patient to the predetermined helicopter landing zone.
• The patient will be brought to nearest Apollo Hospital for immediate care from the closest landing zone.