Record year for saving lives
HISTORY was made in the skies last year, with LifeFlight performing a record number of life saving missions around the Darling Downs.
LifeFlight completed a total of 1,917 missions throughout Queensland, with 491 of those in the Darling Downs region.
Outside Brisbane, the Darling Downs was the top region to receive LifeFlight services in Queensland, with the total value of 2017 missions reaching $6.1 million.
Recent data released by LifeFlight revealed that motor vehicle accidents were the leading reason for people needing emergency medical assistance in the Darling Downs.
This trend diverges from most other regions, where cardiac conditions were behind most calls for LifeFlight services.
Motoring accidents accounted for 69 LifeFlight missions in the Darling Downs, while cardiac conditions accounted for 59 and strokes or neurological conditions accounted for 34.
LifeFlight Chief Operating Officer Brian Guthrie said LifeFlight's aeromedical service helps bridge the gap of inequality in healthcare and ensures all Queenslanders are given access to emergency aeromedical care if they become critically ill or are injured.
"Our helicopters are world-class intensive care units and have fully-trained Critical Care doctors and paramedics on-board.
"At no cost to our patients, this service has been made possible with the help and generous contributions from businesses, councils and Queenslanders looking to give back to their community,” he said.
