Casualty Air Evacuation: Sine quo non of combat casualty

Management of combat casualties has always been a challenging task. Armed Forces world over have developed effective casualty air evacuation mechanisms. The history of casualty evacuation dates back to 1870s. The first evacuation of casualty by air was during the First World War. The paper highlights the background and evolution of air evacuation in the world and discusses the Indian Scenario of casualty air evacuation. The casualty evacuation capabilities of the aircrafts in the Indian Air Force (IAF) are highlighted. To ensure prompt casualty evacuation, the Armed Forces have a chain of casualty air evacuation, thus ensuring that the injured reach the health care center in the least possible time. An indigenously developed patient transfer unit (PTU) comprising of a trauma care recovery trolley with a complement of a portable ventilator, multipara monitor, infusion pumps and oxygen system is also discussed. In addition, the paper discusses the aeromedical considerations while evacuating casualties by air and contraindications for air evacuation. The advancements in the field of medical technology and medical care has ensured safe air evacuation of casualties and has reduced the morbidity and mortality of casualties, thus boosting the morale of the troops.