Capt. Harry Lero on our 858th Medical Evacuation Mission

Last week was our CEO | Chief Pilot's birthday. Instead of us celebrating his birthday the night before, Captain Harry Lero and our medical flight crew had to get some good rest since they were scheduled to fly to San Carlos City, Negros Occidental. The mission... to immediately transport a critically injured motorcycle accident victim to an apt facility in Manila via one of our air ambulance helicopters.

When it comes to saving one's life, Captain Lero puts himself first on the line thus; making the preparation to celebrate his own birthday on the same day becomes impossible for us at Airgurus.We all celebrated it with him the next day. Other special occasions like Valentines, Christmas and New Years with him is also quite impossible as he always has to do his missions. We can't complain... as Airgurus Ltd. Co. is the best provider of air ambulance transport.

The mission to transport the motorcycle accident victim from San Carlos City, Negros Occidental marked his 858th medical evacuation flight in the Philippines. Yes... our 858th successful mission.

Captain Harry Lero is good brother to his siblings, a good son to his parents, a good father to his children, a good boss to us at Airgurus, a good and humble friend to everyone... but not too many knows that he is... our everyday hero in the Philippines.

As of writing and as of today we are on our 862nd medical evacuation mission.

MEDEVAC ON 2 PINOYS IN SOUTH CHINA SEA

Airgurus Ltd. Co., the leading Air Ambulance Company in the Philippines received a 3:15pm distress call from an oil tanker Ghawar Nassar last January 31, 2011.

 
The China-bound tanker's captain requested for the immediate airlift / medical evacuation of two (2) critically injured Filipinos. These men figured in an accident on board (one broken hip and one broken leg) and are requiring to be brought to the Metropolitan Hospital in Manila for immediate medical attention.

Full story and more images at Helicopter Rescue of 2 Pinoys in South China Sea

SKYAID AIR AMBULANCE FOR DIVERS: CASE #1 ARTERIAL GAS EMBOLISM

Airgurus Ltd. Co.  provides Air Ambulance services throughout the Philippines via our SkyAid Membership program. For divers in the country (local or foreign), we are starting to spread awareness on how important it is to have an air ambulance on a standby to provide rescue and medical transfer to the appropriate medical facilities in the Philippines.

SkyAid was created out of our intent to provide Medical Evacuation (Medivac / Medevac) support in the Philippines.

  
One the of most common scuba diving accidents or case we encountered is arterial gas embolism. By definition, it is caused by the expansion of respiratory gases during ascent. It also occurs when the breath is held during ascent from a dive, when there is local pulmonary pathology, when there is dynamic airway collapse in the non-cartilaginous airways and if there is low pulmonary compliance particularly if this is not distributed evenly throughout the lungs.

Recognize these symptoms during or immediately upon surfacing:

• Bloody froth from mouth or nose
• Disorientation
• Chest pain
• Paralysis or weakness
• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Personality change
• Focal or generalized convulsions
• Other neurological abnormalities
• Hemoptysis (bloody sputum) 
• Unconsciousness
• Convulsions
• Stopped breathing
• Marbling of the skin
• Air bubbles in the retinal vessels of the eye
• Liebermeister's sign (a sharply defined area of pallor in the tongue)
• Death 

Recognize Early Management:

• CPR if required.
• Open airway... prevent aspiration. Perform an intubation procedure if a trained person is available.
• Give 02... remove only to open airway or if convulsions ensue. 
• If conscious, give non-alcoholic liquids.
• Place diver in horizontal and neutral position. 
• Restrain convulsing person loosely and resume O2 as soon as airway is open. 
• Protect from excessive cold, heat, water or fumes.
• Transport to nearest ER for evaluation and stabilization in preparation for removal to the nearest re-compression chamber.
• Make the calls! Call your Divers Alert Network (DAN) as seen hereunder:

or 

        Call Airgurus' SkyAid hotlines +632 5836337 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            +632 5836337      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, +632 8544086 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            +632 8544086      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, +63 9209550897 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            +63 9209550897      end_of_the_skype_highlighting and +63 9175966288 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            +63 9175966288      end_of_the_skype_highlighting for immediate medical evacuation. Air evacuation should be at sea level pressure or as low as possible in an unpressurized aircraft which Airgurus Ltd. Co. can provide.

Recognizing immediate treatment necessary for the diver is a must. To get transferred to recompression facilities would require an air ambulance.  Wherever you are in the Philippines, SkyAid's Medevac / Medivac is your best solution as we at Airgurus Ltd. Co. provide SkyAid Air Ambulance Membership to scuba diving enthusiasts (see package hereunder):

Whether you are a local or foreign national diving in the Philippines, this membership is an important and very practical choice for you in case of emergencies. For non-members of SkyAid, we offer chartering our SkyAid Air Ambulance but we rather suggest best that you sign up for a membership program so you and/or your family don't have to spend a lot for it! It's the best way to go and SkyAid is the best solution for diving accidents like arterial gas embolism. 

Scuba diving is still an incredibly safe sport when done properly. Also, keep in mind the golden rule of scuba diving... "Do not hold your breath!" 

Get your membership set now! Don't hold your breath on this one too! You never know... but it's always best when you come prepared and in cases like this, SkyAid is your lifeline!


Written for Airgurus by: Ms. Jodge Ledesma (http://www.socialmediawhore.blogspot.com)
Chopper Image by: Vincent Garrucho of eyeQ media
Diving Images by Airgurus' Heli-Dive Master: Mr. Neal Lim
Sources: www.thecubasite.com, www.scuba-doc.com and www.danasiapacific.org

AUSTRALIAN WOMAN RESCUED

A 25 years old Aussie was rescued from Mt. Kanlaon via Airgurus Medevac Helicopter to a treatment facility in Cebu City.

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines—A 25-year-old Australian woman, who injured her leg while climbing active Kanlaon volcano, was successfully carried down its rugged slopes and airlifted Thursday afternoon to Cebu City for treatment, according to Angelo Bibar, Mt. Kanlaon Natural Park eco-tourism officer.

Leah McCaroll, 25, a volunteer of the Negros Island Sustainable Agricultural and Rural Development Foundation (Nisard), had joined a team, including other Australians, that began their climb of the volcano at Mambucal, Murcia on Saturday.

On Monday, as she was approaching the Pagatpat Ridge, about a half day’s walk from the Kanlaon’s crater, McCaroll slipped and sprained her left knee, which swelled up to her thigh. Bibar said the injury rendered her unable to walk.

Bibar said the Australians then called for a helicopter but the aircraft was unable to rescue McCaroll due to poor visibility.

Waiting for the helicopter delayed bringing McCaroll down on a stretcher by a day, Bibar said.
When the team that brought her down arrived at Guintubdan in La Carlota Thursday afternoon, she was shuttled by vehicle to a waiting helicopter for transport to Cebu City as the Australian’s insurance covers treatment at a hospital there, he said.

News Source:

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20101202-306619/Female-Aussie-hurt-in-Kanlaon-trek-airlifted-to-Cebu

The rescue team was composed of guides from Guintubdan, porters, SkyAid, Airgurus Medevac Team. Leah McCarroll is currently recovering at a Cebu City Hospital.

It is really comforting to know that in the event of people in the Philippines getting stuck in remote areas, they can call and count on Airgurus for Medevac (Medical Evacuation)

Blog Source:  http://socialmediawhore.blogspot.com/2010/12/australian-woman-rescued.html