Placing someone onboard an air ambulance is a big decision and it's a decision that needs to be made carefully. If a person needs to be transported via air ambulance, it usually means the patient's health is already compromised in some manner. If at all possible, you want to ensure that the trip up in the air won't aggravate that individual's condition any further.

Is there any way to guarantee a smooth flight onboard an air ambulance? There are no guarantees in life however a bit of research can increase the chances. Here are a few tips that may help when you need to arrange an air ambulance.

Know what to ask for

The term medevac, or medical evacuation, is often used interchangeably with the term air ambulance. While correct, the trouble with using the term medevac is that it is vague; the term doesn't specify the actual type of transportation that will be used. Medevac can imply other modes of medical transportation including medical evacuation via ground. If you're looking for medical transportation by air, always use the term air ambulance.

Know how the price is being quoted

Cost doesn't usually become an issue until later on when the bill arrives. When you're caught up in the moment, you want your loved one transported and that's all that really matters. To avoid being surprised (not to mention stunned) by the cost of the air ambulance, make sure that in addition to mileage, the prices you are quoted include the flight crew, landing and other fees, applicable taxes, medical expenses including use of onboard medical equipment, medical staff, and all medical consultations, and ground transportation (the costs of getting the patient from the landing field to the intended medical facility).

Check air ambulance safety

So many people assume that just because a company offers air ambulance service it has a solid track record for safety. This is absolutely not a safe assumption! Few regulatory requirements exist for an air ambulance company which means that just about anyone can hang a sign and open the doors for business. It's not hard to use the Internet to check on an air ambulance company's safety record. Never make a choice of this magnitude with first checking into the history of the air ambulance company.

Choose the right-sized aircraft

Which type of aircraft is going to be best – helicopter, propeller plane, or jet liner? Selecting the right air ambulance depends on the specifics. For example, how far does the patient need to be transported? How many passengers need to accompany the patient (including medical and flight staff), what type of medical equipment and supplies need to accompany the patient? These are the types of issues that help determine what's going to get the patient to his destination not only quickly, but safely and comfortably, too.

Start with a medical consultation

If the air ambulance company you're considering doesn't offer to consult with you prior to departure, then it's time to search for an air ambulance company that will.