Air rescue organisation DRF Luftrettung, which operates 31 HEMS bases in Germany and Austria, was called out to 19,558 rescue missions between January and June this year. DRF was frequently alerted after traffic and leisure accidents. “Due to our advanced medical equipment, we are able to diagnose and provide medical care for a wide range of diseases and injuries immediately, onsite,” says executive board member Peter Huber. One in three emergency patients had to be flown to a specialised hospital.

Rescue missions in mountainous areas are frequent occurrences at the company's two HEMS bases in Austria. The helicopters, based in Tyrol and Carinthia, are equipped with a cable winch, which is essential for rescue operations in alpine terrain. A dedicated offshore helicopter is additionally based at Güttin (isle of Rügen) to provide a fast emergency service for operations in the Baltic Sea.

Missions are coordinated around the clock by the DRF ops team based at Baden-Baden airport.