With the Navy actively engaged in relief measures during natural calamities besides performing its operational role, it has fitted its helicopters with medical intensive care unit to provide immediate relief to patients even during adverse weather conditions.
This modification was carried out in the advanced light helicopter at Goa’s naval air station INS Hansa. The installation of the ICU has increased the capability of the navy to evacuate critical patients even in bad and unfavourable weather conditions.
Officials said the ICU was fitted on the Advanced Light Helicopter(ALH)Mk-III from by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). “With ALH Mk-III, an all-weather aircraft, being equipped with MICU, the Indian Navy can now undertake medical evacuation of critical patients by air even in unfavourable weather conditions,” they said.
The MICU has two sets of defibrillators, multipara monitors, ventilator, oxygen support as well as infusion and syringe pumps. The unit also has a suction system to clear secretions in the mouth or airway of the patient.
The system can be operated on aircraft power supply and also has a battery back up of four hours.
The equipment can be installed in two to three hours to convert the aircraft into an air ambulance. The Navy will have eight such helicopters in near future with the first one delivered by the HAL recently, they said.
