DRF Luftrettung flew 17,975 helicopter rescue missions as well as 364 worldwide repatriations from 31 HEMS bases in Germany, Austria and Denmark in the first half of 2010.

"In Germany alone the helicopter crews were alerted 16,645 times in the first half of the year to what often proved to be life-saving rescues," says ceo Steffen Lutz. "In 3,903 cases transport of intensive care patients between clinics was involved. In total the German crews flew 275 more rescues than in the same period of the previous year."

Lutz says: "The time factor is decisive in air rescue particularly in rural areas where Germany faces a decrease of emergency physicians. As a consequence helicopters are being used more and more to bring the emergency physician rapidly to the emergency scene."

In Austria DRF Luftrettung's helicopters flew 794 missions. The first Danish air rescue base was opened in Ringsted in May and, during the first two months of operation, its helicopter responded to 172 alerts.

DRF Luftrettung, in coordination with Luxembourg Air Rescue, also carried out 364 repatriations under the European Air Ambulance banner. "Six ambulance aircraft flew to 70 countries worldwide," says Lutz. DRF Luftrettung currently operates more than 50 helicopters.