Aviation Can Breathe Life into our Nation and the World
Aviation Can Breathe Life into our Nation and the World
We are a coalition of professionals from medicine, advanced nursing practice, hyperbarics, active and retired military, aviation, and business interested in the concept of utilizing large commercial and military aircraft as hyperbaric treatment facilities for use in the mass casualty treatment of those affected by COVID-19 respiratory crisis.
Our hope is you will share the information in the downloadable white paper to those who have the ability and means to put this into action. Please feel free to pass this information on in its present form to anyone whom you believe can help this concept become a reality. Our group strongly believes the utilization of this resource has the potential to save legions of those affected by this pandemic.
The novel corona virus, SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) continues to spread around the world. As of June 18, it has infected more than 8.3 million people worldwide, and in the United States alone is projected to have killed more than 117,000. Based on infection rates, experts project up to 70% of the US population may contract Covid-19 over the next year. What does the upcoming winter look like should the flu and corona virus epidemics occur at the same time?
Current therapies aren’t sufficient at overcoming the deadly hypoxemia (low oxygen) caused by this virus. While many are asymptomatic or only have minor symptoms, severely affected people require hospitalization. Currently, emergency treatment for the profound oxygen deprivation of COVID-19 respiratory crisis includes the use of mechanical ventilators which has a dismal mortality rate as high as 80%.
With limited successful therapies, our only defense options have been to implement long term lock downs and social distancing. The resulting economic impact is as devastating as the disease. The aviation industry has seen a 95% reduction in air travel leading to the grounding of almost two-thirds of the world’s passenger aircraft.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is being investigated nationally and worldwide as a treatment for the hypoxia and lung damage associated with Covid-19. Studies out of China show 100% recovery rates, and use in the United States and Compassionate Use are ranging from 75-90% recovery rates with critically ill patients. These preliminary study results may lead to emergency use authorization of HBOT for Covid-19.
Airplanes as hyperbaric chambers can be used to fight the pandemic war. Soon-to-be retired aircraft such as 757s and 767s, MD-88s and MD-90s, to name just a few, could be utilized as “Aircraft HBOT” (AHBOT) units using ground pressurization, power and air handling units. These passenger aircraft deployed to regional and executive airports would provide easy access for EMS transport to and from local hospitals. Remote hospitals could be established for patient support during HBOT treatment periods. These aircraft could mobilize and treat hundreds if not thousands of patients per day in the regions with greatest need.
Copyright © 2020 Aircraft Hyperbaric Therapy - All Rights Reserved.