Salzburg air rescuers had 3345 missions in the previous year – again a slight decrease
In the second year of the pandemic, the number of air rescue missions by the Salzburg Red Cross fell slightly. Whereas in 2020 there were exactly 3,563 deployments, the flight rescuers deployed 3,345 times in the previous year. The slight renewed minus is mainly due to the long lockdown in the first half of 2021 and the associated entry restrictions for tourists.
On the other hand, the additional effort for the crew members caused by the corona pandemic – keyword deployment in full protective gear – remains high. Before Corona, around 2019, the Red Cross Salzburg had reported 3850 rescue flights, in 2017 it was 3885, in 2017 around 3820.
In cooperation with Heli Austria, Schider Helicopter, Wolf Helicopter and the ÖAMTC, the Red Cross has four helicopter bases in the state (Salzburg Airport, St. Johann, Zell am See, Hinterglemm). Four helicopters are in regular use in summer and five in winter. The operations are coordinated via the regional control centers of the Red Cross in Salzburg and Zell am See.
Every time an emergency doctor helicopter is deployed, an emergency doctor and an emergency paramedic or HCM (Hems Crew Member; mountain specialist and flight assistant) are on board in addition to the pilot. There are currently 22 emergency paramedics from the Red Cross and 75 emergency doctors on duty 365 days a year at the four bases.
“Air rescue is a very important part of the rescue service in the state”, says Sabine Kornberger-Scheuch, State Director of the Red Cross and adds: “The cooperation with our four partners is excellent and I thank you very much for the professional cooperation.”
48 percent of all rescue flights in 2021 concerned internal and neurological diseases (especially heart attacks or strokes). Air rescuers deployed around 30 percent of all sports and leisure accidents (pandemic-related cases around ten percent). Around twelve percent of the missions concerned work and household accidents, five percent traffic accidents.
In the event of an alarm, the flight rescuers are in the air within a few minutes and arrive at the emergency location after an average of 13 minutes.
Support points and missions in detail
Salzburg Airport base: Christophorus 6, EC 135
Collaboration with Christophorus Air Rescue Association (ÖAMTC)
1440 rescue flights in 2021.
St. Johann base (10 months): Martin 1, EC 135 T3H
Base St. Johann (winter season 3 months): Martin 10, MD 902
Cooperation with Heli Austria GmbH (Roy Knaus)
770 rescue flights 202.
Base Zell am See: Heli-Alpin 6, EC 135 T3
Cooperation between ÖAMTC and Schider Helicopter Service GmbH
691 rescue flights in 2021.
Hinterglemm base: Seasonal Martin 6, EC 135 T3 (summer and winter season)
Cooperation with Wolf Helicopter GmbH & Co KG
444 rescue flights in 2021.
