File photo of China's in-flight first aid.

In-flight first aid is still a relatively new concept in China. However, it has lately been gathering strong momentum. From medical helicopters to low-attitude airlines, China’s in-air medical emergency system is becoming increasingly developed.

There is a parking apron that can accommodate three medical helicopters on the roof of the outpatient building of Shanghai Ruijin Hospital. Only recently, a patient wounded in a car crash was transported to the hospital by air. Medical staff from relevant departments were in place in less than 10 minutes, and a medical helicopter took less than half an hour to transport the severely wounded patient from the Shanghai-Nanjing expressway to the hospital. Within one minute after the helicopter landed, the patient had been taken to the operation room.

Chen Erzhen, vice president of Ruijin Hospital, told People’s Daily that air transport can save precious minutes for patients in critical condition.

“In emergency treatment, time is a matter of life or death,” Chen said.

Currently, in-flight first aid in China is still in its early stages. China has only 1,000 airports that can facilitate the take-off and landing of small aircraft. The air fleet of Shanghai’s police department has been established for several years; however, in that time, it has only undertaken a dozen patient transfers. In comparison, large hospitals in developed countries often receive several patients transported by helicopters every day.

Shanghai’s emergency centers, police air fleet and other emergency units have conducted air medical drills every month or two since May, so as to improve and streamline procedures for in-flight first aid.

In recent years, along with simplifying the approval process for low-altitude flights engaged in emergency medical aid, China has made it a priority to advance its in-flight first aid. According to civil aviation authorities, over 500 airports will be built or altered to meet the needs of in-flight emergency medical aid during the 13th Five-Year Plan period.