Condition and location of the patient

If the patient is in a hospital or health unit, the medical person in charge of the patient is encouraged to talk with our medical officer, to ascertain fitness of the client to travel / fly. This involves interaction with IMG Medical doctor to probe; possible diagnosis, vital signs and symptoms, treatment given and what interventions required/ reasons for referral.

If the patient is at the site of an accident or at home, our medical officer on duty advises on what First Aid intervention to be carried out, before the ambulance gets there.

NB: To confirm the location of the patient/caller (if the place is not familiar) the crew always call back to clarify on the directions for the shortest and /or safest route to and from the patient site. The ambulance crew maintains contact with the hospital till the patient reaches the desired destination.

When the crew arrives at the scene /site.
The crew always uses the 3Ts Method:
- Triage
- Treat and
- Transfer, as elaborated below.

Assess the situation: This involves surveillance of the surroundings of the patient/causality, to ensure that no other person may fall victim of circumstances.
Remove the important gadgets from the ambulance, like the stretcher, B.P machine, glucometer, defribulator, as the case may be.
Take the necessary first Aid procedures, putting into account of the D.R.A.B.C (Danger-Response-Airway-Breathing-Circulation) where need be.
Stabilizing the causality before being evacuated or taken to the ambulance/plane. This may involve setting up lines for intra-venous fluids and / or treatment necessary.
While on board, the patient is under close observation by the medical crew. The nurse continuously consults the doctor at the station, about sudden changes in the causality’s life, if any and adherence to any recommendations that the doctor may put forward.
The driver on his part puts into consideration the condition of the patient onboard as well as other road users. So, the condition of the patient determines the speed to drive at by the driver, until their intended destination.
The doctor keeps in contact with the ambulance crew to monitor the patient’s condition.
The doctor will advise the nurse on the appropriate preparations for the patient’s arrival e.g. x-rays, computerized Tomography (C.T.) scans, ultrasound scan or specialist informed, etc, as patient’s condition may require.