Luxembourg Air Rescue keep staff safe by using isolation stretchers

Transport of patients with coronavirus infection pose a now well-recognized set of risks to the medical crew transporting them. The EpiShuttle isolation pod allows for transport of highly infectious patients by air while keeping doctors and pilots safe.

“We are very grateful to our donators making the purchases of this important equipment possible, improving safety and the quality of our services,” said René Closter, CEO and President of LAR.

Luxembourg Air Rescue was awarded the 2020 Adenauer-De Gaulle Prize together with the DRF Luftrettung for their outstanding cross-border achievements during the corona crisis. Covid-19 hit the Franco-German region hard, and in a joint effort, the two air ambulance services undertook the majority of helicopter flights transporting French patients to hospitals in Germany.

No need for protective gear when using EpiShuttle

When transporting patients in an EpiShuttle, medical staff do not have to wear fully protective gear. As well as providing safe transport, this single-person transport system makes operations more efficient. After transporting each highly contagious patient without an isolation stretcher, helicopters must be disinfected, which can take up six hours, according to LAR.

“Transport is a security gap in emergency preparedness and contingency plans. Pandemics require much more complicated patient logistics. LAR and DRF set a great example of how cross-country patient transports can help maximize our healthcare systems’ capacity,” explained Ellen Cathrine Andersen, CEO of EpiGuard.

Norwegian company EpiGuard, and a team of Norwegian doctors, are behind the EpiShuttle, which has been in high global demand since the outbreak of Covid-19. The single-patient isolation and transport system can be connected to a ventilator if needed.