With the exception of military, it’s rare to see a helicopter in China. And while Nanjing has a couple that can be hired for tours, using them for the transfer of the critically ill is a new concept. Nanjing lives up to the challenge.
It’s called “Air 120” (空中120) and yesterday, 23 February, saw the completion of Nanjing’s first such aviation-rescue drill. Providing for a little extra realism and drama, the drill was centred on the helipad atop the People’s Hospital of Jiangsu Province (First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University) on Hanzhong Lu, beside Shanghai Lu Metro Station.
The starting point for the drill was chosen as being the Hospital’s branch in Pukou District. As things got underway, a mobile-navigation app was noted to put the journey time to the Hospital in Xinjiekou 13 kilometres away at about 1 hour by road, on account of traffic congestion in the cross-river tunnel.
For the purposes of the drill, the patient was imagined to be a male surnamed Wang, 40 years old and diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction. It was necessary to immediately transfer Wang by air to the downtown site for heart-bypass surgery.
With the realistic scenario in place, it was time for the first flight of Air 120.
After receiving the call, at 14:35 the Hospital immediately launched the emergency plan, notifying all the relevant departments, while the emergency response-office applied for a route to Eastern Theater air traffic control. 10 minutes later, the helicopter took off from the square outside the Pukou facility.
Professor Liu Yun, president of the People’s Hospital of Jiangsu Province, explained to the Yangtze Evening News that the drill necessitated the formation of the National (Jiangsu) Emergency Medical Rescue Team.
Such was put together by relying on the Hospital and its members, who together cover medical treatment, nursing, medical technology, administration, logistics and other aspects.
With the service representing a major potential upgrade to Nanjing’s medical facilities, authorities already have their sights on expanding it.
All being well, Jiangsu Provincial People’s Hospital plans to fine tweak the Team, strive to expand service to the whole province and radiate to surrounding areas.
Back in the air and with the actual drill, the helicopter carrying Wang and the accompanying medical team landed on the helipad that is the 26th floor of the Hospital’s new outpatient building at 14:53, after a flight time of 8 minutes.
With Wang then quickly transferred to an operating theatre via an express lift, the drill was declared a success and Nanjing now has its own medical-emergency-airlift service.