The use of aircraft for emergency medical transport has no doubt saved thousands of lives since its inception. Every day, those small jets and helicopters swoop in and fly accident victims to the hospitals where they receive the emergency care they need. That vital service, however, is just one of the many ways that air ambulances are used for medical purposes. The military, of course, makes use of helicopters and other aircraft to transport injured soldiers to safety during combat operations. Finally, on the civilian front, there are air ambulances - small jet planes fully stocked with medical equipment and set up to transport patients over longer distances.

These jets perform several important services that most people are unaware of. For instance, during natural disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes, air ambulances often play a vital role in transporting hospital patients to nearby facilities that are out of the danger zones. In these cases, it is especially critical that patients be transported in aircraft that are properly outfitted with the kind of personnel and equipment that can provide the sort of care that they need, or might need during transit.

Air ambulances are also used to reunite families. For example, in a recent incident a truck driver, far from home, crashed his rig. While receiving care for his injuries, it was discovered that he had terminal late-stage cancer. Given his injuries and the severity of his illness, a properly equipped air ambulance was the only way for him to return home, reunite with his family, and spend time with his two small children.

On these remarkable planes, the patient will find what has been described as mini intensive care services. With this equipment, just about any patient in any condition can be kept stable while in transport, and often what makes them such a great choice is that there is plenty of room on board for not only all necessary medical personnel, but for family and friends to accompany the patient as well.

These planes provide a valuable service, and occupy a completely different niche from the sorts of services performed by often-seen helicopter-based emergency medical transport. Whereas planes are better set up for long distances and hospital-like care, the helicopter-based services are inherently more maneuverable, and can take off and land from places that the airplanes simply can't reach.

Both of these services are important ways that air emergency services have, and will continue to save lives and keep families together.