[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] Two new dedicated medical evacuation helicopters, called the "Emergency Room in the Sky," have been delivered to the military.
According to the military on the 1st, the first dedicated medical evacuation helicopter was assigned to the Army Aviation Operations Command's Medical Evacuation Aviation Unit, also known as the "Medeon" unit. Once all eight helicopters are introduced, they will be distributed across three regions: Pocheon, Chuncheon, and Yongin.
The military is currently conducting final inspections on the second dedicated medical evacuation helicopter, with the 3rd and 4th units expected to be introduced by the end of March, the 5th and 6th by the end of July, and the 7th and 8th by the end of September. The eight dedicated helicopters will replace the existing seven medical evacuation helicopters currently assigned to the Medeon unit.
The newly introduced dedicated medical evacuation helicopters are based on the Surion utility helicopter, similar to the existing medical evacuation helicopters (KUH-1), but differ in helicopter performance, evacuation capability, and equipment. While the existing medical evacuation helicopters were Surion utility helicopters equipped with one set of medical equipment (EMS Kit) and a hoist for patient lifting to perform additional missions, the new dedicated medical evacuation helicopters were designed solely for the "medical evacuation" mission.
The dedicated medical evacuation helicopters also have extended flight endurance. Using auxiliary tanks, the flight time has increased from 2 hours to 3 hours. They are equipped with weather radar and ground collision warning systems, enabling operation not only at night but also in adverse weather conditions.
Additionally, while the existing helicopters could transport only one critical patient, the dedicated helicopters can transport up to two critical patients, and up to six stretcher patients (ambulatory) can be accommodated. Each emergency evacuation team consists of six members: a chief pilot, mission pilot, military doctor, paramedic, mechanic, and crew members, operating in three regions?Pocheon, Chuncheon, and Yongin. The paramedics received training from ARS (Air Rescue Systems), a globally recognized American aviation rescue and training company.
The dedicated medical evacuation helicopters are equipped with two sets of medical equipment (EMS Kits), including medical refrigerators and cabinets capable of storing blood, enabling the helicopter itself to function as a "sky emergency room." Furthermore, unlike the previous configuration where the utility helicopter was fitted with a hoist, the dedicated helicopters have an externally fixed hoist and additional equipment such as oxygen tanks, medical lighting devices, and two stretcher supports.
Meanwhile, the Medeon unit, where the new dedicated medical evacuation helicopters have been deployed, achieved 300 emergency patient evacuation missions within four years of its establishment in May last year. The patients evacuated by the Medeon unit were mostly emergency cases requiring golden time intervention, including severe trauma, unconsciousness, multiple fractures, cerebral hemorrhage, meningitis, and heart disease.
A Ministry of National Defense official emphasized, "With the introduction of eight dedicated medical evacuation helicopters that surpass the performance of doctor helicopters, it is expected to contribute even more to securing the 'golden hour'?the critical time for emergency treatment that determines patient survival?during emergency patient transport."
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