Editing Medical evacuation

{{Short description|Emergency evacuation for medical reasons}}
[[File:Agusta A109K2 Slovensko (25).jpg|thumb|An [[AgustaWestland AW109|AW109]] helicopter evacuates a patient from the [[Tatra mountains]] in [[Slovakia]]]]

'''Medical evacuation''', often shortened to '''medevac'''<ref name="MW">{{Cite web|url = http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medevac|title = Medevac|access-date = 27 January 2012|publisher = Merriam-Webster|date = 2012}}</ref> or '''medivac''',<ref name="MW" /> is the timely and efficient movement and en route care provided by medical personnel to patients requiring evacuation or transport using medically equipped [[air ambulance]]s, [[helicopter]]s and other means of emergency transport including ground ambulance and maritime transfers.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=GmbH |first=Vendana |title=Blog {{!}} Air ambulance {{!}} Repatriation from abroad |url=https://www.medical-air-service.com/blog/the-meaning-of-medical-evacuation-in-todays-age_7958.html#:~:text=world-class%20hospital.-,The%20definition%20of%20medical%20evacuation,by%20specially%20trained%20medical%20staff |access-date=2024-09-24 |website=www.medical-air-service.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Emergency medical evacuations |url=https://www.uhcglobal.com/en/resources/business-insights/emergency-medical-evacuation |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=www.uhcglobal.com |language=en}}</ref>

Examples include civilian [[Emergency medical services|EMS]] vehicles, civilian aeromedical helicopter services, and military air ambulances. This term also covers the transfer of patients from the battlefield to a treatment facility or from one treatment facility to another by medical personnel, such as from a local hospital to another medical facility which has adequate medical equipment.<ref name=":0" />  

In Asia, according to Aeromedical Global (M) Sdn Bhd, medical evacuations via air ambulance can be performed via a single or dual stretched setup. According to patients medical condition, Emergency Air Ambulances will be equipped with relevant equipment (ventilators, Portable O2 Concentrator etc). 

==History==
[[File:USAF R-5 medevac Korean War.jpg|thumb|USAF [[Sikorsky H-5|Sikorsky R-5]] Helicopter evacuates casualties during the [[Korean War]]]]
[[Image:Medevac mission, Balad Air Base, Iraq.jpg|thumb|An aeromedical evacuation of injured patients by a [[C-17 Globemaster III|C-17]] from [[Balad, Iraq]] to [[Ramstein Air Base]], Germany, in 2007]]
The first medical transport by air was recorded in [[Serbia]] in the autumn of 1915 during the [[First World War]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/125/Dru%C5%A1tvo/1516279/Veliki+rat+-+avijacija.html|title=Veliki rat - Avijacija|publisher=RTS, Radio televizija Srbije, Radio Television of Serbia|website=rts.rs}}</ref> One of the ill soldiers in that first medical transport was [[Milan Rastislav Štefánik]], a Slovak pilot-volunteer who was flown to safety by French aviator [[Louis Paulhan]].<ref>''L'homme-vent'', special issue of ''L'Ami de Pézenas'', 2010</ref>

The [[United States Army]] used this lifesaving technique in [[Burma]] toward the end of [[World War II]] with [[Sikorsky R-4B]] helicopters. The first helicopter rescue was by 2nd Lt [[Carter Harman]], in Japanese-held [[Burma]], who had to make several hops to get his Sikorsky YR-4B to the [[1st Air Commando Group]]'s secret airfield in enemy territory and then made four trips from there between April 25 and 26 to recover the American pilot and four injured British soldiers, one at a time.<ref>Fries, Patrick. ''When I Have Your Wounded: The Dustoff Legacy (DVD)'', Arrowhead Films, 2013.</ref>  The first medivac under fire happened in Manila in 1945 when five pilots evacuated 75&ndash;80 soldiers one or two at a time.<ref>Conner, Roger. ''Medevac From Luzon'', Air & Space Magazine, July 2010.</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Aeromedical evacuation]]
* [[Air ambulance]]
* [[Air medical services]]
* [[Casualty evacuation]]
* [[Immigration detention in Australia#Medevac bill|"Medevac bill" (Australia, 2019)]]
* ''[[Medivac (TV series)|Medivac]]'', Australian television series
* [[Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

{{Wiktionary|medevac}}
* [http://www.aams.org Association of Air Medical Services]
* [http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/44971/landing-in-hell-army-medevac-today Landing in Hell: Army Medevac Today] - slideshow by ''[[Life magazine]]''

[[Category:Air ambulance services]]
[[Category:Critical emergency medicine]]
[[Category:Military medicine]]
[[Category:Evacuations|*]]