Saudi Red Crescent to launch its air ambulance service during Hajj

 The Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA) will launch its landmark air ambulance services during this year’s Hajj, said Capt. Abdulhamid Al-Jawfi, director of the Red Crescent’s air ambulance operations.

The service is being initiated to help pilgrims in case of accidents or emergencies. “The program’s strategy is to transport the patient to the nearest medical center within an hour regardless of the distance,” said Capt. Al-Jawfi.

“Air ambulances and land ambulances will cooperate during Hajj to swiftly transfer sick and injured people to hospitals. For example, there will be a center where both air ambulances and land ambulances will be able to meet. Through this technique, patients will be taken to the nearest hospital in a short time,” he told Arab News.

“The land team will receive calls from members of the public. They will then inform the air team about cases. The air ambulance will not be used in all cases. The medical team will discuss the case and helicopters will only be used in certain cases,” said Capt. Al-Jawfi.

“The medical team will decide how important the case is, what is the distance between the patient’s location and the nearest medical center, and the required time to transport the patient,” he said.
There will be five medical helicopters in use during Hajj.

“The helicopters will serve the holy sites and the ring roads that lead to Makkah and Madinah,” he said.
Air ambulance helicopters are designed in a way that can provide basic medical care to patients.
“The helicopters are designed to transport two patients under the supervision of two doctors. Air ambulances are considered the most sophisticated helicopters available in the world. They are also equipped with small emergency rooms,” said Capt. Al-Jawfi.

The air ambulance plan during Hajj has been divided into three stages. The first stage is to cover the roads that lead to Makkah and Madinah. The second stage is to cover the holy sites, while the third stage is set to cover pilgrims until they return to their home countries, he said.