Fatties need bigger planes
2009-01-03 14:05
Sydney - Increasing obesity has
prompted an Australian state to seek larger planes for the
country's famous "Flying Doctor" service, ambulance and
government officials said on Saturday.
New South Wales state has just put out a tender to assess
the cost of obtaining two larger new planes for its air
ambulance fleet, which is flown under contract by the Royal
Flying Doctor Service to service remote and rural areas.
Recent global surveys have repeatedly highlighted
Australians as among the most obese people in the world,
despite the country's association with an active, healthy
lifestyle and love of sport.
The two new planes would be able to carry patients up to
260kg, nearly twice the current limit of 140kg, a spokesperson for the state's health ministry told
Reuters.
"The ambulance service has obviously seen a need," the
spokeswoman said.
A New South Wales ambulance service spokesperson said it
followed similar moves by other parts of the service, including
ground ambulances and helicopters, to accommodate larger
patients.
Asked if the move was prompted by increasing levels of
obesity, she told Reuters: "Essentially, yes."