Canadian air ambulance service invests in NVG
BCEHS, based in Vancouver and Prince Rupert, Canada, has announced that three of its four air ambulance helicopters are now equipped with NVG.
BC Emergency Health Service (BCEHS), based in Vancouver and Prince Rupert, Canada, has announced that three of its four air ambulance helicopters are now equipped with night vision goggles (NVG). The fourth helicopter, based in Kamloops, will be equipped with the technology later this year.
BCEHS says that the installation and flight crew training will cost the service an estimated $1.7 million and is the result of an agreement reached last year between BCEHS and its primary helicopter service provider Helijet International.
Health Minister Adrian Dix said that the move aims to improve access to patient care in British Columbia and was part of a wider investment plan to improve access to ambulance services and raise safety levels for patients, flight crews and paramedics.
“We’ve been working hard to enhance our air ambulance programme and night vision technology is one of the ways in which we are improving our service,” added Linda Lupini, Executive Vice President of BCEHS and the Provincial Health Services Authority.
The service carried out its first NVG-assisted mission on 20 April.