Sea Ambulances Serve As Vital Lifeline for Emergency Care on Istanbul's Princes' Islands in Türkiye

Two ship crew members and two health workers staff each sea ambulance, which serves as a key part of the islands' emergency care system. When an emergency call comes in, land ambulance teams are dispatched first, and the sea ambulance is activated if needed. Emergency care technician Melek Can explained that land crews request sea ambulance support when patients require further examination and treatment.

The sea ambulance transports the patient to shore as quickly as possible, then hands them over to a land ambulance for transfer to an appropriate hospital. Because no hospital on the islands operates 24/7, sea ambulance teams must be trained and equipped to handle a wide range of emergencies. Can noted that they must have both the training and equipment to intervene with any patient in any situation.

Cases include heart attacks, head trauma, bicycle accidents due to the islands' steep ramps, and emergency childbirths. Summer visitor numbers increase both the variety of cases and operational tempo.