今日のテキスト MEDICAL HELICOPTER FLIGHTS RISE

Japanese authorities say helicopters were dispatched more than 20,000 times for emergency medical services during the fiscal year that ended in March.
Helicopters are used to transport teams of doctors and nurses between remote areas and hospitals. Patients airlifted to hospitals can also receive emergency medical treatment on board. Forty-three helicopters have been deployed across Japan.
The Japanese Society for Aeromedical Services says demand for the helicopters has been rising since they were introduced in 1999. On average, each helicopter made 480 trips in fiscal 2013. The overall number topped 20,000 for the first time.
Medical helicopters are being used more frequently because more emergency cases involve elderly patients. And with a shortage of staff at local hospitals, some can't provide emergency treatment. So there's often no choice but to fly patients to larger hospitals.
Health ministry officials say improved coordination between firefighters and medical institutions has allowed helicopter crews to save many lives.