Qatar air ambulance available to rush military casualties

Photo By Dustin Senger | Mark Friskel, from Pheonix, Ariz., explains air evacuation capabilities to U.S. Army Maj. Todd Griffin, from Ruston, La., at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, on March 6. Today's exercise symbolized the ability for Hamad Medical Corporation to support air casualty evacuations from the U.S. military installation in Qatar. Fiskel, a former U.S. Army aviator, is a Life Flight pilot at Hamad General Hospital in Doha, Qatar. "They have made landings outside the gates for local traffic accidents since the service first started in October 2007," said Griffin, Area Support Group Qatar Anti-Terrorism and Force Protection operations officer. "This is their first landing on Camp As Sayliyah."  

CAMP AS SALIYAH, QATAR

03.06.2008

Story by Dustin Senger 

Area Support Group - Qatar

By DUSTIN SENGER
Area Support Group Qatar

CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar – An air ambulance from Hamad General Hospital landed at Camp As Sayliyah on March 6, symbolizing their ability to support air casualty evacuations from the U.S. military installation in Qatar.

The hospital is one of three managed by Hamad Medical Corporation, the central health care provider in the Gulf state. Camp As Sayliyah has a troop medical clinic, emergency medical transport personnel and paramedics but limited in-patient capabilities. In the case of a severe injury, troops are rushed to Hamad Medical Center, where modern and well-equipped facilities provide highly specialized care to anyone living in Qatar.

"The Qatar National Health Authority decided they needed a helicopter service to support the country's expanding population," said Malcolm Perry, assistant executive director of the Hamad Medical Corporation emergency medical services. Qatar is a prosperous Islamic nation, rich in fossil fuels. Of the almost one million residents, only an estimated 20 percent are local Qataris. The countries large expatriate population is helping the nation construct an educational, cultural and sports entertainment venue in the Middle East.

The first helicopter air rescue was on Oct. 12, 2007, according to Julien Talbot, Life Flight base manager at Hamad General Hospital. During that ground-breaking rescue, his team responded near the Saudi Arabian border to save an injured elderly gentleman after his car rolled in the remote desert location. Despite severe injuries, the Qatari survived. The nation's new air evacuation capability is able to quickly respond to casualties in Qatar, when expedited service is needed to save lives.

"We are patient focused," said Perry. "Today was our first flight to the U.S. military installation. We don't care if a patient is Qatari or another nationality, civilian or military." Hamad is located in Doha, Qatar's capital city. Land travel from the hospital to Camp As Sayliyah can take an hour or more, depending on current traffic congestion and road construction – both conditions are well known in the rapidly developing nation. Perry expects air ambulance flights between Hamad and Camp As Sayliyah to take only four to six minutes.

"This is an advanced life support helicopter," said Daniel Guzman, installation fire chief. "The helicopter has rear and side loading ability with both flight medic and EMT personnel. This is more than what we usually see in the United Sates." After arriving, Life Flight personnel were immediately welcomed by U.S. military officials. Installation paramedics and fire fighters were also on scene to receive a full explanation of the helicopter's capabilities and equipment.

"I am really looking forward to making this work," said Talbot. "This will be a great relationship."

• Date Taken: 03.06.2008
• Date Posted: 03.06.2008 15:38
• Story ID: 17082
• Location: CAMP AS SALIYAH, QA