As the Chief Flight Nurse of Air Rescue Africa, I have always been extremely proud of the dynamic Air Rescue Africa medical crew. I thought it may be interesting to hear, in their own words, why they chose the unique field of aviation medicine. Their reasons were diverse, interesting and sometimes unexpected.
Many crewmembers stated a clear passion for aviation. “There is a certain and unexplained excitement when wandering amongst the aircrafts in the hanger”. When one of the doctors was asked to explain this excitement, the answer was “when it comes to aircraft, maybe I have just never grown up!”
Many members of this unique group used the term “fun” to describe their motivation.
Who would consider it fun to be woken up at 02h00 in the middle of winter and face the icy wind on an apron in preparation for a flight that may mean you’ll only arrive at home again 20 hours later? Then upon arrival at the destination, somewhere in Africa, temperatures are soaring. Perspiration pours off your forehead, your flight suit clings to your body like a wet glove and the flies and /or mosquitoes – well just bug you non-stop! Who works under pressure, in a confined space of an aircraft whilst cruising at 39000ft above sea level and describes it as being fun? And upon your return to the base, the bags needs to be repacked and the aircraft cleaned so everything is in perfect order for the next flight! Fun?
Well it appears that for our dedicated team, the rewards clearly outweigh the “small discomforts”. The dream of flying into Africa is only part of the attraction and going to new, sometimes exotic places and meeting interesting people from all over the world is an added benefit. Africa is like a boiling pot of cultures, with people from Africa elsewhere in the world, trying to be part of the growth and riches Africa has to offer.
Many crewmembers love the unpredictable nature of the job. More than often, we receive little information about a patient’s condition or the patient’s symptoms may present differently to what was expected and the team must be prepared for any possibilities. As one crewmember described “… it as an environment full of variables -of what, when and how?...” Another crewmember said: “every mission is different and there is a certain excitement in the unknown” And how many people can say in the morning…. “Today I’ll pop off to Lusaka to fetch a patient. See you later.”
Then there are the medical challenges we face. When arriving at a patient’s bedside, often in rather underdeveloped facilities in Africa, our crew often elevates the level of care provided just by being present. There is also the awareness that whilst travelling with the patient, there are no other personnel around and one must be confident and skilled to provide the best care to the patient. Most of the crewmembers love pre-hospital medicine and see aero medicine as a unique aspect of the pre-hospital field. Each of them sees it as a personal challenge and milestone to be on top of their game all the time.
And then there is the pride of being part of a world class air ambulance service – Air Rescue Africa. The medical crew are seen by many peers as outgoing, enthusiastic and passionate about their work. Other words used to describe each other were “professional”, “appreciating teamwork” and “fun loving”.
So yes, with the challenges, unpredictability and slight discomforts, there is a unique bunch of people who love the work of aero-medicine. I am sure that any person who has been a patient or has ever made use of the services of Air Rescue Africa - will echo me in my sincerest appreciation for the excellent work of this dedicated team!
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