Air-ambulance takes to Sanmenxia's sky

Sanmenxia of Henan province managed to fit the ambulances with wings to further shorten emergency awaiting time as the city simulates a rescue with helicopters on Dec 20.

The trial test started with a telephone call saying that a visitor at the Ganshan National Forest Park was suffering from an acute onset chest pain.

The patient was transferred to the helicopter with a stretcher and was sent to the Yellow River Sanmenxia Hospital as soon as the aircraft landed.

The drill was planned by Sanmenxia Population and Family Planning Commission, Yellow River Sanmenxia Hospital and Shanghai Kingwing General Aviation Co after the city announced the launch of the air medical rescue services in the morning.

The AW119 helicopter is equipped with medical facilities such as a defibrillator and a breathing machine and can carry one patient while two medical workers conduct emergency treatment during the transfer to the hospital.

Medical helicopters can transfer severely ill patients to large hospitals from distant places where four-wheeled vehicles can hardly reach.

Medical workers send a patient to the emergency helicopter with a stretcher during the rescue drill in Sanmenxia on Dec 20. [Photo by Cheng Qian/ismx.cn]