Recent Issues and Advances in Aeromedical Evacuation (MEDEVAC)

Civil Military Co-operation in Aeromedical Evacuation
medical aircrew is now better able to respond to
the various problems that may arise in the course
of an aeromedical evacuation. The continuation of
this co-operation will further improve the
possibilities for safely transporting the critically ill
and injured. Special attention is required in
promotion of standardization between civilian and
military medevacs. Accurate recording and
reporting of all medevac flights is essential to
recognize and correct hazardous situations and to
improve the quality of care.
Summarv.
In aeromedical evacuation, civilian institutions and
the military co-operate in naval Search and Rescue
and in the use of civilian aircraft for military
purposes. This paper describes the co-operation
that has evolved between the Netherlands Armed
Forces and the Rotterdam University hospital.
Military flight surgeons are trained in Rotterdam
in emergency medicine and they participate in
high care civilian ambulance flights. Rotterdam
University hospital staff is trained by airforce
personnel in aviation medicine. Also, Royal
Netherlands Airforce research facilities are used.
This co-operation ensures optimum quality of
patient care in flight by optimum training and
research efforts. There is a clear need for ongoing
research and standardization in the field of
aeromedical evacuation.
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