Diego Garcia to Singapore Air Ambulance Flights is a Forte of HI Flying Air Ambulance International

Diego Garcia
Air Ambulance

AIR AMBULANCE SERVICES FOR DIEGO GARCIA

Diego Garcia is located south of the equator in the Indian ocean.
It is about 3,535 km (2,197 mi) east of  Tanzania's coast, 1,796 km (1,116 mi) south-southwest of the southern tip of India and 4,723 km (2,935 mi) west-northwest of the west coast of Australia. Diego Garcia lies at the southernmost tip of the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge, a vast submarine mountain range, top of coral reefs, atolls, and islands comprising Lakshadweep, The Maldives and the Chagos Archipelago.
Local time is  UTC +06:00 year round.

With its limited Medical capabilities – it needs lifesaving emergency Air Ambulance services in case of a medical emergency.
HI Flying – Air Ambulance International has been connecting the residents of Diego Garcia to the outside world whether it is the transportation of a partially recovered safe patient or a critical patient who had a recent stroke or a myocardial infarction.
“It has always been challenging and satisfying to do a Medical evacuation from Diego Garcia considering the aviation difficulties, permissions and medical limitations of facilities for the escorts flying to Diego Garcia.” Says the N Mathew – medical coordinator at HI Flying – Air Ambulance International.

At present – we are doing most of the evacuations to Singapore as the first point of transport and then to any destination in the world as desired by the client by Commercial and Charter flights.
The aircrafts at present utilized for the transportation are the Learjet 45, Learjet 60 and Gulfstream 150.

They have dedicated  Air Ambulance flights fully equipped with the latest lifesaving equipment and emergency medications appropriate for the patient clinical condition.

On receiving a positive medical call from our clients especially based out of the United States, we acquire the medical report and plan the transfer in the shortest possible time. The takeoff time is generally 6 -12 hours after call confirmation.

Gulfstream 150 can do the transfer nonstop in about 6 hours time one way – and the Learjets may require a stopover at Colombo, Sri Lanka.

“Prearranged MOU with our clients makes things easy to finalize since charter flights cost a significant amount and it is preferable to deal with known clients where sums are assured and transportation can happen at short notice.” Says Malathi from the Account department at HI Flying India office. We also take advance deposits so emergency evacuations can be done.

We accept payments from all credit cards or debit cards with 5% surcharge.

Consideration for patient transport –
Most of the times before we receive a transfer request, the decision about transportation is already taken by the Medical center at Diego Garcia in consultation with the Medical doctors in the Assist centers. At times, an opinion is asked as to the right time of transportation of the patient in view of his clinical status, in which case our Medical Director reviews the medical report and has a telephonic talk with the Medical center to take the decision of a quick transfer or a planned evacuation.

Common trauma cases encountered are

• Long-bone fractures in different extremities.
• Injury to more than two body regions.
• Ejection from a vehicle.
• Pedestrian or cyclist struck by motor vehicle.
• Penetrating trauma to the abdomen, pelvis, chest, neck, or head.
• Crush injury to the abdomen, chest, or head.
• Fall from a significant height.

Neurologic considerations

• Glasgow Coma Scale less than 10
• The mental status of the person is seen to be deteriorating
• Skull fracture is suspected
• Neurologic presentation suggestive of spinal cord injury

Chest symptoms

• Major chest trauma- flail chest
• Pneumothorax or Hemothorax
• Cardiac injury

Abdominal and Pelvic injuries

• Severe abdominal pain after blunt trauma
• Presence of seat belt sign or abdominal wall contusion
• Rib fracture
• Pelvic fracture

Orthopaedic injury

• Fracture or dislocation with vascular injury
• Extremity ischaemia
• Open long bone fractures
• Two or more long bone fractures

Burns

• Major burns covering over 20% body surface area
• Burns covering face, head, hands, feet and genitals
• Electrical burns
• Chemical burns
• Inhalational injury
• Burns associated with injury

Drowning injuries
Occasional Snake bites


Non trauma injuries involving Cardiac episodes – Unstable angina, Acute myocardial infarction, Pulmonary problems- Pneumonia and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Severe anemia, acute on chronic renal failure, acute pancreatitis and other medical conditions where facilities for treating the medical condition in a Primary health center at Diego Garcia is not adequate and requires transportation to a higher center for better treatment.
We advise our clients - Assistance companies or other Air Ambulance companies should incorporate logistical considerations, clinical judgment, and medical consideration in determining whether primary air transport is appropriate for patients with non-trauma diagnosis at that moment of time.
Our inputs whenever required from the point of view of transportation can be provided by our Medical Director.

A brief history of Diego Garcia
In March 1971, United States Naval construction battalions arrived on Diego Garcia to begin the construction of the communications station and an airfield. To satisfy the terms of an agreement between the UK and the United States for an uninhabited island, the plantation on Diego Garcia was closed in October of that year. The plantation workers and their families were relocated to the plantations on Peros Bahnos and Salomon atolls to the northwest. The by-then-independent Mauritian government refused to accept the islanders without payment and in 1974, the UK gave the Mauritian government an additional £650,000 to resettle the islanders. Those who still remained on the island of Diego Garcia between 1971 and 1973 were forced on to cargo ships that were heading to Mauritius and Seychelles.
By 1973, construction of the Naval Communications Station (NAVCOMMSTA) was completed.
In the early 1970s, setbacks to United States military capabilities in the region including the fall of Saigon, victory of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, the closure of the Peshawar air station listening post in Pakistan and Kagnew Station in Eritrea, the Mayaguez incident and the build-up of Soviet naval presence in Aden and a Soviet airbase at Berbera, Somalia caused the United States to request and the UK to approve permission to build a fleet anchorage and enlarged airfield on Diego Garcia and the Seabees doubled the number of workers constructing these facilities.
Following the fall of the Shah of Iran and the Iran hostage situation in 1979–1980, the West became concerned with ensuring the flow of oil from the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz and the United States received permission for a $400-million expansion of the military facilities on Diego Garcia consisting of two parallel 12,000-foot-long (3,700 m) runways, an expansive parking aprons for heavy bombers, 20 new anchorages in the lagoon, a deep-water pier, port facilities for the largest naval vessels in the American or British fleet, aircraft hangars, maintenance buildings and an air terminal, a 1,340,000 barrels (213,000 m3) fuel storage area, and billeting and messing facilities for thousands of sailors and support personnel.
 
For more information about Planned and Emergency Air evacuation from Diego Garcia –
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Usha - Hi Flying - Air Ambulance International.
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