German aeromedical provider DRF Luftrettung and its subsidiaries have now carried out more than one million air rescue missions, each with the aim of providing medical care to people in need as quickly as possible. In addition to the milestone number that was reached at its Munich station on behalf of all emergency crews, the air rescuer's primary focus is on the people and the stories behind the missions.

On 19 August 2021, shortly before 17:00, the alarm rang at the Munich station, and the emergency crew took off, as usual within a few minutes. A 27-year-old woman had to be taken to a special clinic for further medical care as soon as possible due to premature labour. The three-person crew took over the patient from the ground-based rescue service and flew her directly to the Grosshadern Clinic. With this mission, DRF Luftrettung achieved its 1,000,000th mission. “We are very proud and grateful that we have been able to assist people in medical emergencies over a million times. We would therefore like to thank everyone who made this possible with their commitment to our patients and their trust in our work,” explains Krystian Pracz, chairman of the board.

It all started with a single helicopter that took off for the first time on 19 March 1973 to provide rapid medical aid to a person in need. Today, DRF Luftrettung and its subsidiaries fly around 40,000 missions a year, which is an average of around 110 missions per day. “It is particularly important to us to show that there is a person behind every single number and thus an individual fate. That is why we focus on personal stories, experienced and told from many perspectives,” explains Pracz. “That's tens of millions of impressions and experiences. From our crews, from patients, but also from our partners in the rescue service and our sponsoring members and fans. Because air rescue can only succeed in a team if everyone works hand in hand for life.”

For the benefit of its patients, DRF has always taken extra steps to further develop air rescue. “We train, get involved in committees, pass on our knowledge, develop new methods, develop excellent know-how and use the latest technology. All with the aim of being able to help even better and hopefully more people tomorrow,” adds Krystian Pracz. Air rescuers, partners and patients report on this plus in passion, commitment and teamwork with moving and emotional, but also funny and everyday stories about a million missions by air rescuers. With #TeamEineMillionPlusDRF Luftrettung will allow people to participate in the world of air rescuers in the coming weeks and months in order to draw attention to their importance. The air rescuer community is invited to get to know the diverse and different stories and to actively share their own personal experiences online.