SkyMed air ambulance service safely takes you home in Yuma County

  In a medical emergency, being able to travel within and outside of the country with security and peace of mind is something everyone wants for their family.

  That is precisely what Agueda Palacios offers her customers when they become members of SkyMed.

  "SkyMed is an air ambulance service," said Palacios, SkyMed representative. "It's a medical rescue transportation by air and ground."

  For more than 20 years, SkyMed International Inc. has been providing air medical service to 31 countries - including the United States, Canada and Mexico - led by Will Klein, president and CEO.

  In September, Palacios became the official local representative for the service that covers Wellton, Yuma and El Centro. She also covers Mexico’s Puerto Penasco and is working to include Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta.

  "Although the intention is to enter the Latino market," she said, "two agents from Florida will come to Yuma now to cover the winter visitors, but I can help them, too."

  SkyMed offers a service for those who travel in and out of the country. If members of SkyMed suffers an illness or accident and do not want to be treated where they are, they can contact SkyMed and a medically equipped aircraft with trained personnel will be sent to pick them up and transport to the location where they want to be treated, Palacios explained.

  If the patient decides to stay where they are, SkyMed contacts the hospital's medical staff and makes the appropriate arrangements, she added.

  "This works in several ways, or the patient is transported from hospital to hospital or directly to their home, depending on the patient’s requests," said Palacios. If the patient is accompanied by a family member, that person is also transported.

  "During my training, I realized how important this service is and how little people know about it," she said.

  Palacios said people have reported that SkyMed has saved them thousands of dollars. While many may think the service is a costly luxury, but it's not, she said.

 SkyMed offers two types of service plans: yearly and five years. "People only pay a single annual charge, and we have two options that are individual or a family plan."

  With that single payment, the person or family has secured their transfer either by air or by land to where they desire. In addition, they will be under the care of medical staff during the flight who are in constant contact with the hospital where the patient is going for admission.

  "To have this service is to have peace of mind," said Palacios.
 SkyMed offers:

  •  Air transport for medical emergencies, including hospital-to-hospital service.

  • Escort medical staff if you are traveling on a commercial airline.

  • Return of underage children or grandchildren (19 years or up to 23 if they are in college).

  •  Return of your vehicle to your home.

  • Transportation for companions. They pay the return flight for whoever accompanied the patient on the trip.

  • Transportation of loved ones’ remains to the person's place of origin.

 "Quite simply, SkyMed keeps you prepared for the unexpected," said Palacios. "Most times we do not realize that we may need this service when we go on summer vacations or Christmas holiday, when we travel abroad to visit relatives.

  "There is nothing like traveling or vacationing safely, and SkyMed provides the peace of mind that you need."

  SkyMed requires a single annual payment to buy the membership. The family plan costs $420, and $240 for an individual plan. Depending on the options chosen, SkyMed brings back the client's car, pets and belongings.

  "Our services are guaranteed," she said. And a refund is offered if in 30 days you decide that it’s not what you want.

  For more information , call Palacios directly at 246-2684, or 1-800-475-9633.