LEVEL OF TREATMENT

BASIC LIFE SUPPORT:
BLS is mostly preventative in nature. It is appropriate for patients needing minimal external life support, but in need of monitoring or potential care during flight. Aircraft involved in the transport of patients requiring BLS must have both the equipment and personnel on board capable of handling and treating a medical emergency.

ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT:
Aircraft suited to transporting these patients must have personnel and equipment necessary to provide BLS functions as well as the capability to perform cardiac defibrillation, control dysrythmaias, administer drugs and establish and maintain respiratory airways. In addition, medical personnel on board the aircraft must be capable of providing care for the condition causing the need for transport. Patients requiring ALS care are typically suffering from trauma, burns or cardiac failure, as well as a variety of other conditions.

CRITICAL CARE:
Finally, AASI will arrange air transport services to patients who are severely ill or injured and in need of Critical Care, the highest level of care. To provide Critical Care services, highly and specifically trained physicians and flight nurses must be a part of the on board aircraft aero medical crew. It is important that these medical personnel have specialized training to enable them to perform services in an aero medical environment.