Jet suit paramedic tested in the Lake District 'could save lives'

[editor]

I so want a go at one of these! Incredible tech...

A jet suit for paramedics which would see patients reached in minutes by a "flying" medic has been tested by the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

After a year of talks between GNAAS and Gravity Industries, a first test flight was carried out in the Lake District.

Andy Mawson, director of operations at GNAAS, came up with the idea and described seeing it as "awesome".

He said it meant a paramedic could "fly" to a fell top in 90 seconds rather than taking 30 minutes on foot.

Mr Mawson said: "There are dozens of patients every month within the complex but relatively small geographical footprint of the Lakes.

"We could see the need. What we didn't know for sure is how this would work in practice. Well we've seen it now and it is, quite honestly, awesome."

Mr Mawson said the exercise had demonstrated the huge potential of using jet suits to deliver critical care services.

Jet suit paramedic tested in the Lake District 'could save lives'

The kit means a paramedic can "fly" up a fell in 90 seconds rather than go 30 minutes by foot.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Pickman's model]

i wonder what they're like for the environment

 

[platinumsage]

I wonder what they’re like in gusty wind, rain, snow etc and how long it takes to train a paramedic to use one skilfully?

 

[LDC]

"Emergency, please send for the flying paramedic, I've eaten all my Kendal Mint Cake."

 

[dessiato]

i wonder what they're like for the environment

If it's my life at stake in don't think I'd care that much.

Realistically I don't imagine they'd be deployed that much.

 

[cupid_stunt]

...how long it takes to train a paramedic to use one skilfully?

It was featured on BBC News this morning, they said only 2 days to train.

 

[LDC]

I might be wrong but it's more a publicity fund raising stunt more than anything I suspect. It'll have very little use really. (Apart from the pulling in the pub use. "Yeah, I'm the jetsuit paramedic. That's me. I fly up mountains and save lives. All in a day's work. Fancy a drink tomorrow night?" )

 

[Supine]

Who is going to fix the crashed flying medic?

 

[WouldBe]

Just seen it on BBC news.

 

[Pickman's model]

If it's my life at stake in don't think I'd care that much.

that's got nothing to with the actual question. if it's your life at stake i don't suppose you'd give too much thought to the dangers the coastguard or lifeboat people would face. but that doesn't mean those dangers don't exist. and i still wonder what impact of the development and use of these things has on the environment.

 

[WouldBe]

Who is going to fix the crashed flying medic?

Physician heal thyself is the usual motto.

 

[Pickman's model]

Physician heal thyself is the usual motto.

especially when budget restrictions mean there's likely only one for the peak district

 

[Saul Goodman]

It's been out for a few years. Adam savage built an iron man suit based on it.

This is just a(nother) publicity stunt.

 

[belboid]

It's been out for a few years. Adam savage built an iron man suit based on it.

This is just a(nother) publicity stunt.

This is one of Richard Brownings Gravity suits, they were available from Selfridges for only $440,000

 

[Saul Goodman]

This is one of Richard Brownings Gravity suits, they were available from Selfridges for only $440,000

Sign me up for three.

 

[bimble]

I need one of these.
this is The Future I was looking forward to.

 

[BassJunkie]

I heard the chap on the radio this morning talking about this, he sounded like a gleeful 7 year old boy as he was wrapping up "And then, when we get the first actual rescue with jetpack!". It made me both grin and wonder whether he was looking into the hills, hoping for someone to have a fall while rubbing his hands together.

 

[Saul Goodman]

These look more fun.

 

[killer b]

I keep reading the start of this thread title and wondering why a french paramedic would be announcing his arrival to the boards.

 

[LDC]

In other flying human news there was the first wingsuit jump/flight from a UK mountain last month done by this bloke

Pro - Tim Howell

In August 2022, culminating with the Matterhorn, I became the first person in the world to climb and then BASE jump all six of the Great North Faces of the Alps.

www.jottnar.com

 

[NoXion]

People are calling this a publicity stunt, so I'm curious; what would it look like if it wasn't a publicity stunt? I mean there had to be a first time for helicopters to be deployed for remote rescue duty, yes? Presumably the helicopter manufacturers at that time weren't motivated by the goodness in their hearts?

 

[bimble]

Also cool Saul Goodman but the other one , where you’re in a standing position and just skimming over the earth that’s the jet suit I’ll be looking for on eBay. Looks a lot like when I used to have flying dreams.

 

[belboid]

People are calling this a publicity stunt, so I'm curious; what would it look like if it wasn't a publicity stunt? I mean there had to be a first time for helicopters to be deployed for remote rescue duty, yes? Presumably the helicopter manufacturers at that time weren't motivated by the goodness in their hearts?

Helicopters did their advertising in wars.

 

[Bahnhof Strasse]

In other flying human news there was the first wingsuit jump/flight from a UK mountain last month done by this bloke

Pro - Tim Howell

In August 2022, culminating with the Matterhorn, I became the first person in the world to climb and then BASE jump all six of the Great North Faces of the Alps.

www.jottnar.com

Wingsuit flying is very cool, but those that do it don't tend to live very long, each jump has to be more extreme than the last, getting closer and closer to the ridge they fly over until one day they don't fly over it but in to it, at 120mph.

 

[LDC]

I was suggesting it's mostly a publicity stunt as I see it having limited actual use, unlike helicopters which had a practical and proven use before they were brought in for mountain rescue and air ambulance use. And GNAAS (like all air ambulances in the UK) aren't part of the NHS, but are charities and as such are always on the scrounge for money. And this is bound to take people to their website and maybe donate, and get them coverage in the news.

 

[Pickman's model]

People are calling this a publicity stunt, so I'm curious; what would it look like if it wasn't a publicity stunt? I mean there had to be a first time for helicopters to be deployed for remote rescue duty, yes? Presumably the helicopter manufacturers at that time weren't motivated by the goodness in their hearts?

Helicopters did their advertising in wars.

belboid indeed they did:

The First Helicopter Rescue | Defense Media Network

The story of the first helicopter rescue during World War II.

www.defensemedianetwork.com

that's the earliest use of a helicopter to rescue someone i can find after 30 seconds of searching

 

[Spymaster]

People are calling this a publicity stunt, so I'm curious; what would it look like if it wasn't a publicity stunt? I mean there had to be a first time for helicopters to be deployed for remote rescue duty, yes? Presumably the helicopter manufacturers at that time weren't motivated by the goodness in their hearts?

I think by publicity stunt people mean that they don't seriously expect any paramedics to be kitted out like this and flying around the fells anytime soon. It's a marketing gig. Nothing wrong with that. Good luck to them.

 

[Saul Goodman]

People are calling this a publicity stunt, so I'm curious; what would it look like if it wasn't a publicity stunt? I mean there had to be a first time for helicopters to be deployed for remote rescue duty, yes? Presumably the helicopter manufacturers at that time weren't motivated by the goodness in their hearts?

Helicopters we're and are used for rescue. The only rescue these will ever be involved in is the rescue of the company owner's bank balance.

 

[LDC]

Wingsuit flying is very cool, but those that do it don't tend to live very long, each jump has to be more extreme than the last, getting closer and closer to the ridge they fly over until one day they don't fly over it but in to it, at 120mph.

Yeah, ditto BASE jumping which I did toy with the idea of getting into a one point but decided I had quite a nice life that I liked.

Here's a classic Russian BASE jump. He goes splat. Survives though.

 

[bimble]

I think by publicity stunt people mean that they don't seriously expect any paramedics to be kitted out like this and flying around the fells anytime soon. It's a marketing gig. Nothing wrong with that. Good luck to them.

Idk I can see them getting loads of enquiries for jobs though.