When technology acts as a life-saving drug

Ahmedabad: Several deaths on long-haul flights have triggered questions about the state of medical facility available on board as well as at the airport. But, now technology is ready to build bridges between life and death.
Indian Research Space Organisation (ISRO) is developing and designing telemedicine facility, which can be useful in saving lives of the people on board. And the mandate is from none other than the Maharajah . The telemedicine facility would enable hospitals to issue instructions via satellite to the cabin crew of the airline.
Says ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair: “Air-India has approached us for developing telemedicine support to in-flight emergency cases. The existing technology can be used, provided we make a compact antenna. It should also have a capability of tracking the satellite on the move.” Nair was speaking at a two-day conference on telemedicine in Space Application Centre Ahmedabad.
Mid-air deaths have compelled airlines to take steps on improving flight facilities. Even if there is a doctor on board, his job has never been easy; often working in isolation with limited facilities. The telemedicine system will now allow him to connect with other professional doctors on the ground.
A-I is in the process of issuing tenders for a portable medical equipment that can be carried on the flight and can record ECG, pulse, blood pressure and temperature and send the data to medical centre on the ground.
04/05/07 Kamran Sulaimani/Economic Times

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Categories: Air India May 2007, General Aviation May 2007, New May 2007, Safety May 2007