Airmed 2011 Moves a Step Closer

Airmed, the international aero-medical congress, will be held in Brighton (United Kingdom) from May 24-27, 2011, hosted by the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance (United Kingdom), in partnership with the European health emergency medical services (HEMS) and Air Ambulance Committee (EHAC; Munich, Germany).

A host of distinguished speakers representing all areas of interest has been recruited to present an interesting and informative scientific program covering a wide range of clinical, operational, and managerial issues. Topics will include advances in surgical trauma care; medical up-dates on head injuries and traumatic brain injury (TBI); prehospital airway management; 24-7 HEMS services; night vision operations; and new aircraft control technologies. The Congress will conclude with a specialist aviation day and display at Shoreham Airport.

The 2011 Airmed congress is being supported by leading names in the medical and aviation world, including Agusta Westland; Bell Helicopters (Fort Worth, TX, USA); Eurocopter; Specialist Aviation Services; Aerolite, and Bucher Leichtbau (Fällanden, Switzerland). Global organizations and suppliers will also be exhibiting at the Brighton Center, the venue for the first three days of Airmed.

"We are working very closely with our colleagues in EHAC to produce a first class conference in a premier location which we think will contribute significantly to the development of HEMS worldwide," said Adrian Bell, CEO of the Kent, Surrey, and Sussex Air Ambulance. "As we address the final stages of preparation for Airmed we have been very encouraged by the amount of support we are getting from all sectors of the aero-medical industry from all over the world."

"There has been a huge amount of interest in Airmed, particularly over the last few months, and we are receiving new delegate registrations daily from every corner of the world," added Jill Playle, the organizer of Airmed 2011. "We have introduced a day delegate rate this year and this has seen an increase in the number of participants particularly from the UK."

There are over 360 HEMS helicopter bases in Europe, with additional fixed-wing ambulance bases chiefly providing cross-border or inter-continental services such as medical repatriation. Some 200,000 HEMS and air ambulance missions are flown annually, and in Germany alone HEMS helicopters have flown in excess of 1 million missions since the inception of rescue services.

Related Links:
Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance
European HEMS and Air Ambulance Committee
Bell Helicopters
Bucher Leichtbau