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Celebrating a legacy of innovation and industry firsts, from developing bespoke medical kits to founding the first global response center for aviation. We're committed to pioneering solutions and delivering excellence for every journey.

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ABOUT MEDAIRE

EXPERT CARE, EVERYWHERE.

MedAire is a global aviation and maritime medical, security and operational support company. Since 1985, MedAire has helped airlines, business aviation operators, flight crews and yacht operators prepare for and respond to medical and security risks wherever they operate.

See how support works Start with Joan’s story

HOW MEDAIRE SUPPORTS AN OPERATION

PREPARE. MONITOR. RESPOND. FOLLOW THROUGH.

MedAire connects training, medical kits and equipment, current medical and security information, and specialist guidance so each part of preparation and response supports the next.

  1. 01
    BEFORE AN OPERATION

    Prepare

    Training, kits, protocols and planning help crews get ready to act.

  2. 02
    AS CONDITIONS CHANGE

    Monitor

    Medical and security information supports awareness and decisions.

  3. 03
    WHEN SOMETHING HAPPENS

    Respond

    Specialists provide real-time guidance within the operational context.

  4. 04
    UNTIL THE CASE IS RESOLVED

    Follow through

    Teams help coordinate next steps and maintain continuity.

WHEN ILLNESS OR INJURY OCCURSConnect the people on scene with medical professionals.
See how MedLink supports an event
WHEN CONDITIONS CHANGE OR RISK ESCALATESBring current context and specialist support into the decision.
See security support in practice
Joan Sullivan Garrett working as an emergency-room nurse in Arizona
Joan Sullivan Garrett working as an emergency-room nurse in Arizona

WHERE THE MODEL BEGAN

A FLIGHT NURSE TURNED A FAILURE IN REMOTE MEDICAL RESPONSE INTO A NEW OPERATING MODEL.

In 1984, Joan Sullivan Garrett responded to a fatal accident in a remote area of Arizona. The experience made a systemic problem clear: people far from traditional care needed better preparation, the right equipment and access to expert medical guidance.

Joan founded MedAire in 1985 around that integrated idea. Her approach connected three elements that were often treated separately: environment-specific training, fit-for-purpose medical kits and remote medical expertise.

Prepare the people on scene. Equip them for the environment. Connect them with expertise when distance matters.
Follow the full 40-year story

HOW THE MODEL EVOLVED

INNOVATION IS HOW MORE USEFUL INFORMATION REACHES THE NEXT DECISION.

MedAire has continued to improve what responders can do on scene and what specialists can understand from a distance. The progression is visible in the tools, standards and connected clinical information that followed.

01 TOOLS + STANDARDS

PUT CAPABLE EQUIPMENT IN THE HANDS OF THE RESPONDER.

MedAire introduced medical kits for non-medical responders in 1987. A decade later, founder Joan Sullivan Garrett testified before Congress in support of AEDs and advanced medical kits aboard commercial aircraft. The work addressed both sides of readiness: what crews had available and what the industry considered essential.

Follow the full 40-year story
An early MedAire medical kit with diagnostic equipment and supplies
Early MedAire medical kit
The United States Capitol, representing Joan Sullivan Garrett’s 1997 congressional testimony
Joan Sullivan Garrett testified before Congress in 1997
A responder using MedAire’s Digital Assessment Kit with a passenger aboard an aircraft
Digital Assessment Kit in use aboard an aircraft
MedAire in-flight application demonstrating connected support
Connected tools added visual and clinical context to remote consultation

02 VISUAL + CLINICAL CONTEXT

GIVE REMOTE CLINICIANS A CLEARER PICTURE.

Video consultation added visual context where voice alone had limits. The Digital Assessment Kit combines medical-grade devices with MedAire’s Aviation App so crew can capture and deliver cleaner clinical data to MedLink.

See the Digital Assessment Kit in use

03 CONTINUOUS DATA

MOVE FROM INDIVIDUAL READINGS TO A CONTINUOUS VIEW.

VitalStream provides continuous, real-time monitoring of vital signs and can transmit live data to MedAire doctors. It gives the remote medical team a richer stream of information while care is in progress.

See continuous monitoring in practice
LIVE VITAL-SIGN DATA VitalStream wearable sensor and real-time monitoring display

INDUSTRIES

MEDAIRE SUPPORTS PEOPLE OPERATING IN THE AIR AND AT SEA.

Commercial airlines, business aviation operators and yacht teams face different environments, responsibilities and routes to care. MedAire applies one connected model to the realities of each.

EXPERTISE AND PEOPLE

MEDAIRE’S SUPPORT REMAINS HUMAN-LED.

Technology carries information. People interpret it, account for the operating environment and help clients decide what to do next.

Security specialists reviewing a digital risk map
Security specialists reviewing a digital risk map
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Medical professionals

Doctors, nurses and paramedics provide remote guidance during illness or injury.

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Security specialists

Analysts and assistance teams help clients understand and respond to safety and security risk.

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Education, equipment and logistics specialists

Teams turn experience into practical readiness and coordinated follow-through.

PART OF INTERNATIONAL SOS

GLOBAL REACH, SPECIALIZED FOR AVIATION AND MARITIME.

MedAire is part of the International SOS group of companies. This network connects MedAire clients with medical, security, assistance and crisis-response capabilities around the world, including GoCrisis response resources.

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ABOUT MEDAIRE

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Direct answers to common questions about MedAire.

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Company

What does MedAire actually do?

MedAire provides medical, security and operational support for aviation and maritime organizations. Since 1985, MedAire has helped operators prepare for and respond to risks when traditional resources may be far away.

How can MedAire help us prepare before something happens?

MedAire supports preparation through training, medical kits and equipment, planning and risk information. If an event occurs, medical and security specialists can provide assistance and help coordinate next steps.

When would a crew call MedLink?

A crew can contact MedLink when an illness or injury occurs in flight or at sea and they need medical guidance or help coordinating next steps. MedLink is available 24/7.

Does MedAire only work with airlines?

No. MedAire supports commercial airlines and cargo operators, business aviation flight departments, charter and management companies, and yacht operators. Its services are designed around the needs of people working and traveling in the air and at sea.

What led Joan Sullivan Garrett to start MedAire?

In 1984, flight nurse Joan Sullivan Garrett responded to a remote accident in Arizona involving a child who did not survive. The experience led her to create a company focused on making emergency medical knowledge and support available far from traditional care. MedAire was incorporated in 1985.

Where does International SOS fit?

MedAire is part of the International SOS group of companies. MedAire clients benefit from access to the group's global medical, security and assistance network while receiving solutions specialized for aviation and maritime operations.