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Operation
The operational area of "Christoph Europa 5": a regional cooperative project, unrestricted by national borders, to provide care for citizens in southern Denmark and northern Schleswig-Holstein (graphic: DRF Air Rescue)
The DRF rescue helicopter with the radio contact name "Christoph Europa 5" is based at Niebüll Hospital. The Type BK 117 helicopter is used both for emergency rescue missions and for urgent transport of intensive care patients between hospitals. It is available in readiness daily from 7.00 a.m. until sunset. The operational area includes the entire west coast of Nordfriesland, the islands and Halligen, and the Sønderjyllands region of Denmark. The improved air service ensures that the people of the region and the thousands of tourists who visit it will have access to rapid care in emergencies.
When the control center in Husum receives an emergency call, the helicopter crew are informed by a radio alarm system. Thus, the machine and crew are ready for action within two minutes of an alarm call being received, and can reach any location within the operating range of 50 km in 15 minutes or less. Most importantly, this can save lives when emergencies occur in country districts or on islands within the operational area. For example, "Christoph Europa 5" can be on the island of Rømø within a flight time of 11 minutes. The importance of the Cross-Border Air Rescue project is clearly illustrated by the fact that, in the first half-year after "Christoph Europa 5" came into service, 600 missions were flown, of which 62 were in the Sønderjyllands region of Denmark.
Team
The crew at the Niebüll DRF Air Rescue Station includes both German and Danish members. The crew members on board the helicopter always include, as well as the pilot, an emergency doctor and a rescue assistant with special training as an HEMS (helicopter emergency medical service) crew member. The emergency doctors are specially trained and qualified for emergency work, and have a background in intensive medical care. They and the rescue assistants have many years of experience in ground-based rescue services.
The team of the rescue helicopter "Christoph Europa 5" at work on the Danish island of Rømø (Photo: DRF Air Rescue)
The pilots of "Christoph Europa 5" have a very thorough knowledge of flying, and are required to show that they have extensive flying experience. They receive regular further training in safety matters
"Christoph Europa 5 " an seinem Standort vor dem Klinikum Niebüll. (Foto: DRF Air Rescue)
Technical Equipment
