MEDEVAC
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A MEDEVAC is an abbreviation for "medical evacuation."
The term MEDEVAC is usually applied to a vehicle, plane, or helicopter used as an ambulance (sometimes called an "air ambulance"). This permits the rapid transport of seriously injured persons, particularly trauma patients, from the scene of the accident to the hospital. News accounts of such transportation often use the terms 'airlifted' or 'LifeFlighted', although MEDEVAC is a common term used by civilians as well. Most patients transported by MEDEVAC are taken to a specialized hospital known as a trauma center. MEDEVAC can be misconstrued, as it may not clarify as to whether ground or air assets are being utilized, and therefore it is best to make it clear during planning and communication.
The technique has its roots in the establishment of the Australian Royal Flying Doctor Service, which was established in 1928 to bring doctors to patients and patients to hospitals from the remote outback. Inevitably, the immense military potential of the practice was realized with the development of the helicopter. The U.S. Army pioneered this lifesaving technique during the Korean War. They established semi-permanent field hospitals immediately behind the front lines, which allowed wounded soldiers to receive complete medical treatment after only a short helicopter flight. This military tactic was popularized in the 1970s TV series M*A*S*H.
In modern American military terminology, MEDEVAC is often differentiated from Casualty Evacuation, CASEVAC. In this context, MEDEVAC refers to the moving of a patient either from the point of injury, or a casualty collection point, to a medical facility or between the different levels of care with en route medical care whereas CASEVAC has limited or no en route care and medical equipment. CASEVAC is heavily utilized by the US Marine Corps and manned by US Navy Hospital Corpsman. The CASEVAC Helicopters are combat aircraft and will, as needed, land in 'hot zones' that MEDEVAC helicopters may not, due to hostile fire. Accordingly MEDEVAC aircraft are normally modified aircraft with lifesaving equipment on board as well as trained medical personnel as part of the aircrew. The aircraft are marked with the Red Cross/Crescent, and as such, covered by the Geneva Convention, thereby allowing the aircrew to only carry personal weapons. In the US Military, the MEDEVAC mission is performed primarily by the US Army.
In Australian military terminology, a MEDEVAC refers to the evacuation of an entire section for medical reasons while a CASEVAC refers to the evacuation of a small number of troops, usually just one.
The phrase 'Aeromedical evacuation' or AEROVAC is also used to refer to transportation of medical cases from one medical facility to another with a higher level of care, a particular skill set or in the case of combat to a safer environment, with the capability for sophisticated en route care (ventilators, etc). In the US Military, this is done primarily by the US Air Force to move patients out of the Combat Theater aboard fixed wing aircraft.
The First Civilian MEDEVAC in the United States was performed by the Maryland State Police Aviation Command in the late 1970's, a service they continue to offer today.
Private MEDEVACs are also frequently used to air-lift seriously ill or injured travelers out of countries with inadequate or non-existent medical facilities.
