New medical helicopter in Jalisco already saving lives in Puerto Vallarta

The medical helicopter of the Emergency Medical Attention System (SAMU) handed over to the Jalisco Health Secretariat (SSJ) last Saturday, made its first airlift this week to move an organ between the Guadalajara International Airport and the San Javier Hospital.

In a statement, the government of Jalisco said that on Wednesday morning a liver from Chihuahua was taken to the facilities of the private hospital to be transplanted, compared to a ground transfer the time savings was 52 minutes. This was the first transfer in the SAMU helicopter in Jalisco that supports the State Council of Transplants of Organs and Tissues (CETOT) with its work.

However, there are seven beneficiaries with the medical helicopter SAMU Jalisco and in the first week of operation, the helicopter delivered by Governor Enrique Alfaro, has given attention to seven patients, five minors and two adults.

From the Regional Hospital of Colotlán, a minor of 14 years with probable meningitis; from a hospital in Puerto Vallarta, a three-year-old boy diagnosed with influenza; and leaving Yahualica, a premature baby of 26 weeks accompanied by a neonatologist and transferred in a neonatal capsule (incubator).

In addition to the Regional Hospital of Sayula, a 30-year-old man with spinal cord trauma after having suffered a road accident; and from the Regional Hospital of Yahualica, two minors of 13 and 14 years old with a maxillary fracture and other injuries suffered in a rollover.

Also, between the Guadalajara International Airport and a private hospital in the city, the liver from Chihuahua to be transplanted to a patient.

Fray Antonio Alcalde Civil Hospital received the six patients, and if a comparison is made with ground ambulances, the time saving with the medicalized aircraft ranged between 52 minutes and four hours and seven minutes.

The helicopter’s estimated take-off time is between five and 10 minutes, once certain factors have been met, such as: availability in the hospital that has the necessary specialty for the patient, type of urgency, weather, orography, security, among others.