2024-07-25 11:30:09
Misconceptions and Truths About Doctor Helicopter
Operates in 8 regions including Incheon, Jeonnam, and Gangwon
It is only available if the medical staff recognizes the need, and the entire cost is covered by taxes, so it is free.
Even if you are not a critically ill patient, you can be transferred in an emergency… You cannot fly in bad weather or after sunset
On May 14, two doctor helicopters appeared over Seoul Plaza in Jung-gu, Seoul. As the attendees of the ‘2024 Seoul Health Show’ gathered at Seoul Plaza turned their gaze to the sky, the host shouted into the microphone, “The sound you hear now is not noise, but a signal that saves lives.” The airspace over Seoul Plaza is originally a no-fly zone, but they received special permission to fly that day to convey the message that they must be dispatched anytime, anywhere to save emergency patients.
This is not the first time that the Doctor Helicopter has appeared in the skies over Seoul Plaza. In October 2019, as part of the ‘Doctor Helicopter Sound is Life (Revival) Campaign Festival’ co-hosted by the Dong-A Ilbo, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government, four emergency medical helicopters, including the Doctor Helicopter, flew over Seoul Plaza and Deoksugung Palace. Last year, the Doctor Helicopter also made an appearance at the ‘2023 Seoul Health Show’ hosted by the Dong-A Ilbo and Channel A.
Interest in Doctor Helicopter has been increasing recently due to campaigns and events like this, but not many people know about it properly. The misunderstandings and truths about Doctor Helicopter are organized in a question and answer format.
Q. Can I use the Doctor Helicopter just by reporting it like 119?
“No. The general public cannot request a doctor helicopter right away. Not only is the cost of taking off and landing not small, but critically ill emergency patients must be transported first. When an emergency occurs and you report it to 119, the 119 rescue team that is dispatched will assess the patient’s condition. If they determine that a doctor helicopter transfer is necessary, they can request a doctor helicopter through the fire situation room. When a transfer from one hospital to another is necessary, the hospital medical staff can also request a doctor helicopter after determining the necessity. However, receiving a request does not necessarily mean that the doctor helicopter will be dispatched. The doctor helicopter medical staff will check the patient’s condition one more time and, when they determine that a helicopter transfer is necessary, the doctor helicopter will be dispatched.”
Q. Do patients have to pay when riding the doctor helicopter?
“No. The ride is free. Sometimes, people hesitate to ride even in an emergency because they are worried about the cost. Since the Doctor Helicopter is operated by the government with taxes, it is free of charge. When dispatched, we provide a sufficient explanation of this before boarding. Although it costs a lot to operate the Doctor Helicopter, if it can save more emergency patients, the effect is greater than the cost.”
Q. Can I use the Doctor Helicopter in all regions of the country?
“No. Unfortunately, the areas where they can be used are limited. Doctor helicopters are deployed in eight places: Gangwon, Gyeonggi, Gyeongbuk, Incheon, Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, Jeju, and Chungnam based on their operating range. Of course, there are exceptional cases where they operate across provinces and cities, but there are not enough doctor helicopters to use them in all areas. The United States, which has been operating doctor helicopters for a long time, has over 900, and Germany has about 100. Even in nearby Japan, there are over 50. The government is currently promoting a plan to expand the number of doctor helicopters from eight to 12 by 2027. Additional deployment is needed in areas such as Gyeongnam and Chungbuk, where doctor helicopters do not exist, and Gangwon and Gyeonggi, which have large areas or large populations.”
Q. Are 100% of the patients transported by helicopter seriously ill?
“No. Of course, the Doctor Helicopter is mainly operated for patients with the three major severe emergency diseases: severe trauma, stroke, and myocardial infarction. These are diseases where the so-called ‘golden time’ is crucial, and if treatment is delayed, it can lead to serious situations such as death. In this case, the Doctor Helicopter acts as a ‘flying emergency room’ that simultaneously provides treatment and transport from the scene. As of 2023, 54.2% of all patients transported by the Doctor Helicopter were patients with the three major severe emergencies. However, due to the characteristics of medically vulnerable areas such as islands and mountainous regions, even if they are not the three major severe emergencies, if they are judged to be emergency diseases that require transport by the Doctor Helicopter, they are transported.”
Q. Can the Doctor Helicopter operate regardless of the weather?
“No. This is also the most misunderstood part. Due to the nature of the aircraft, the Doctor Helicopter is inevitably affected by the weather. Also, it follows the ‘visual flight rules (VFR)’, which requires the pilot to fly while directly checking the terrain with his or her own eyes. Therefore, it cannot be dispatched on days with high clouds and poor visibility or on days with strong winds. Especially during the rainy season like now, there are more days when it is impossible to dispatch. For the same reason, it only operates from sunrise to sunset. Therefore, there is a difference in operating hours between the summer season when the days are long and the winter season when the days are short. The Doctor Helicopter prioritizes the safety of the helicopter pilot and medical staff, as this directly relates to the safety of the patients.”
Q. There are many complaints about the noise generated when the doctor helicopter is in operation.
“Helicopters make a lot of noise when they take off and land. However, since there are many residential facilities such as apartments around the takeoff and landing area, it is inevitable that there will be noise complaints. Recently, there was news that the relocation of the doctor helicopter apron was not smooth due to noise issues. Experts point out that the noise generated when doctor helicopters take off and land should be recognized as a ‘life-saving sound.’”
Lee Jin-han, medical journalist and doctor [email protected]
2024-07-25 11:30:09