AreaRead the video transcript expand here
It's often a race against the clock.
In a medical emergency, every minute can count.
In rough terrain, however, the rescuers often find it difficult to get to the scene.
This jet suit could be a solution.
Jamie Walsh, a British paramedic, has been working with the device for a year.
Now he has ventured into testing the jet suit.
Jamie Walsh, Paramedic
“We trained for about eight or nine days. To be able to now reach a casualty on a hillside in Cumbria is really exciting. Today is a key day because today the weather conditions are bad. Because that happens a lot here in Cumbria.”
Walsh and his colleague managed to climb the 950 m high Lake District Mountain in just three and a half minutes.
It would have taken him over an hour to walk.
Important finding: The pilot can also cope with difficult weather.
Jamie Walsh, Paramedic
“If you fly a little faster, the rain splashes on your face and a little bit on your eyes. But especially counteracting the wind when coming over a ridge is sometimes a bit difficult. But if you're prepared for it, it's a very stable piece of equipment and you can counter the wind and maneuver and manage it fairly safely."
The jets on the back and arms of the jet suit deliver around 1000 hp and lead to a speed of up to 130 kilometers per hour.
The British Army has also already tested the device – in order to possibly use it as part of special operations.
However, long flight times are not possible: the pilot has to land again after around five minutes at the latest.
Therefore, in the case of a one-man mountain rescue service, the paramedic initially drives his ambulance as close as possible to the scene of the emergency.
The jet suit is also not suitable for transportation – its advantage lies in the faster first aid, especially for seriously injured people.
Richard Browning, inventor
“What we've learned as jetsuit developers is that rescue operations are all about getting super-fast to the side of patients who need immediate help — replenishing blood loss, solving breathing problems, relieving pain, and assessing how severe the case is is."
However, it may be a while before the devices are actually used in an emergency.
The plan is for the first paramedics in jet suits to start next summer.
Equipped with first aid equipment and a defibrillator.