MERCY FLIGHTS

WHAT IS A MERCY FLIGHT?

A mercy flight is an air transport service that is usually provided by volunteer private pilots for medical purposes. Mercy flights include flights that transport: human organs and tissue for transplants; plasma or whole blood; mother's milk for needy infants; anatomical specimens for medical research; medical personnel, equipment and supplies; and, in instances of medical and financial need, individual patients who require services from health care facilities that they would be unable to access without assistance. Ancillary or related services include airline medical escort services, coordination of medical care during transport, and coordination of travel arrangements for the transportation of individuals with non-emergency medical needs and their family members.

Aircraft may be outfitted as flying intensive care units, carrying blood, oxygen, blood pressure and oxygen saturation monitors, cardiac drugs, defibrillators, intravenous fluid infusion pumps, and other life support equipment and patient care supplies.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

Mercy flights are limited to occasions where there are documented, urgent medical needs. There is usually also a financial need.

HOW TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE
Search by service name:
Mercy Flights

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SOURCE: Air Ambulance Network www.airambulancenetwork.com
PREPARED BY: 211/rj
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: February2008