In England, paramedics are being trained in life-saving jet suits that allow them to reach individuals in trouble in a fraction of the time it would take to get by car or on foot. The initiative was announced by the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) in 2020, and testing has been conducted since then. The adoption of jet suits would cut the time it takes to reach victims in rough terrain in half.
Gravity Industries conceived and built the technology, which has been in the works for over five years. It enables emergency responders to ‘fly’ to victims, significantly reducing response times. In a recent test, a paramedic was able to reach the summit of Helvellyn mountain in just three minutes, a 750-meter climb that would ordinarily take an hour on foot.
Jamie Walsh, 37, described the testing as interesting, fascinating, and unlike anything else, he has ever experienced. He completed six days of training and was able to utilize the suit without being attached for the first time. He also mentioned that a lot is going on when it comes to determining the correct level of power, steering, and thinking about height.
There are two engines on each arm and a larger engine on the back of this flying rescue outfit. The pilot’s hand movements regulate the plane’s direction and movement. The engines have a thrust of up to 317 pounds, allowing the pilot to rise swiftly. As a result, the revolutionary Jet Suit will save time while allowing paramedics to fly to difficult-to-reach locations.
The goal is to reduce the time it takes to reach a victim with a defibrillator from an hour to three or four minutes. GNAAS is collaborating on the project with Gravity Industries and Orsted, a renewable energy firm. The Jet Pack suits have been proved to be effective in 35 mile-per-hour gusts, according to the organization, and may be used on 15 to 20 medical cases every week. The next step is to get jet suits ready in time for medical emergencies this summer, which is something to bear in mind the next time you go for a solo hike.
