New ventilators to support patients during air evacuations

Patients who become critically ill during medical evacuations will have access to advanced breathing support through four new ventilators provided to Manolos Aviation.

The hospital-grade equipment will be used for patients who are unconscious or unable to breathe adequately on their own.
Manolos Aviation managing director Captain Jurgen Ruh says the ventilators will strengthen the company’s ability to care for patients during flights.

“Being able to ventilate a patient gives us a much better option when treating someone who is critically ill during an aeromedical evacuation,” Ruh said.

Manolos Aviation has provided medical evacuation services for 16 years.
Ruh said the ventilators may only be needed four or five times a year, but they are important to have available when a critically ill patient requires breathing support.

The four ventilators are valued at about K50,000 each and were provided by the Australian Government.
Australian Consul General Brenton Kanowski. said the equipment would strengthen the capacity of medical teams to provide respiratory support during critical care and medical evacuations.

Medical staff have also received training in the use of the equipment from Australian Defence Force personnel and Australian nurse volunteer Sister Laura, who works at Angau Hospital.
The ventilators will also complement Manolos Aviation’s developing clinic at the old airstrip in Lae and its helicopter aeromedical operations.

The Australian Government says the support is aimed at strengthening emergency and critical-care capacity in Papua New Guinea.