Taking Flight Towards Healing: Observing World Trauma Day with Universal Air Evac

World Trauma Day

World Trauma Day, observed on 17 October yearly stands as a poignant reminder of the global impact of trauma and the imperative for collective action to mitigate its consequences. It serves as a platform to raise awareness about the pervasive challenges posed by traumatic injuries and emergencies worldwide. This day underscores the importance of fostering international collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovative solutions to enhance trauma care and emergency response mechanisms. It's a call to action for governments, organisations, healthcare professionals, and communities to prioritise the development of effective healthcare systems and infrastructure that can provide timely and efficient trauma care.

By acknowledging World Trauma Day, the international community not only honours the resilience of survivors but also reaffirms its commitment to creating a safer and more prepared world where lives can be saved and quality of life can be improved in the face of adversity.

The Importance of Being Prepared for Trauma and Emergencies

A recent case that Universal Air Evac was involved in demonstrates the absolute necessity of having comprehensive travel insurance and the right partners on your side before embarking on your journey

Anna Smith* embarked on an unforgettable trip to France for her 71st birthday celebration. Little did she know that this journey would take an unexpected turn. Anna fell seriously ill during her visit, leading to a series of health challenges that her travel insurance could not cover. Listed as unforeseen events, and categorising them as a cardiac illness and bacterial infection, Anna’s medical expenses soared as she spent almost two months in a French hospital.

Hospitalised in France, it was discovered that she had a dangerous bacteria infecting one of her heart valves, causing not one, but two unexpected strokes. The infection, travelling through her bloodstream, further caused meningitis and damaged her heart valve to the point of needing open-heart surgery for replacement. Unfortunately, her road to recovery was further complicated by pneumonia, high levels of antibiotics and acute failure of her kidneys, causing her to fall into a coma.

For 52 days, Anna fought her battle on foreign soil, unable to return home. However, Universal Air Evac stepped in to make sure Anna could finally return home and took up the mission to bring her back to South African soil. The journey included several of Universal Air Evac’s professional team and three stops in Algeria, Nigeria and Angola before making it home.

We're proud to have played a role in reuniting Anna with her loved ones and ensuring she got the care she needed. However, the challenges didn't end there. After being brought home, she endured an additional 70 days in the hospital, leaving a stark reminder that before embarking on foreign travel, it is your responsibility to ensure that your travel insurance will cover any eventuality

What Makes a Repatriation Service Successful

Apart from the proper travel insurance, a trusted partner is critical when it comes to dealing with any traumatic events that might take place in a foreign territory. We take a look at what is key to assisting Universal Air Evac in their life-saving missions.

Proper Equipment
When responding to traumatic injuries or medical emergencies, having the right equipment at your disposal can make all the difference. Universal Air Evac takes great pride in its state-of-the-art fleet of fixed-wing aircraft, each meticulously equipped with the latest medical technology, ensuring that patients receive the highest quality care during transport. These aircraft are designed to accommodate various medical scenarios, including full ICU support for adult and paediatric patients.

An Experienced Team
While having advanced equipment is crucial, it is equally vital to have an experienced and compassionate medical team to operate it. Universal Air Evac employs a highly skilled team of medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, pilots and paramedics, who are well-versed in critical care and emergency medicine. These professionals are trained to adapt to the unique challenges of in-flight medical care, and their unwavering dedication to patients is what sets Universal Air Evac apart. With their extensive experience, they can swiftly respond to a wide range of traumatic events, from accidents and injuries to medical crises, ensuring that patients receive the highest level of care and support.

Streamlined Processes and Procedures
In the world of emergency assistance, time is of the essence. From the moment a call for assistance comes in, Universal Air Evac's teams work seamlessly to assess the situation, prepare the aircraft, and deploy to the scene with utmost precision. Their protocols have been finely tuned to ensure that no time is wasted, and the patient is reached as quickly as possible. Additionally, Universal Air Evac works closely with healthcare facilities, ensuring a smooth transition from the initial care provided on-site to the transport and continuing care during the journey, all while keeping the patient's well-being and safety as the top priority.

The Bottom Line

On World Trauma Day, Universal Air Evac reminds us of the importance of being prepared for trauma and emergencies, both locally and across borders. As a patient, having the correct travel insurance is vital, and knowing that you are correctly covered, should anything happen on foreign soil.

In times of trauma and emergency, Universal Air Evac is a symbol of hope, bridging the gap between crisis and recovery. Let's use World Trauma Day as a reminder to appreciate the tireless efforts of our staff and reflect on the vital role they play in ensuring that every individual in need receives the best possible care.