Converted Charter Plane for Mass Transport of Patients after a Tsunami

After a tsunami in the Indian Ocean in December 2004, thousands of injured tourists were stranded far away from home. To transport injured Scandinavians and their relatives back to Sweden, a standard Icelandic charter plane was altered for the mission in 2 days. Orthopedic injuries and aspirations were the predominant injuries among patients transported, but all had received advanced care in Thailand. The transport to Sweden was uneventful. The possibility of including charter planes in plans for mass transport of injured patients in disaster preparedness is stressed. For a given incident, a detailed checklist can facilitate gathering vital information to ensure adequate equipment and patient care. The lessons from the preparation of the plane and the mission are reported.