HEMS base Niebüll
The HEMS base Niebüll in Schleswig-Holstein
On April 1, 2005, the DRF Luftrettung started the operation of its HEMS base in Niebüll/Schleswig-Holstein. The helicopter with the call sign "Christoph Europa 5" is stationed at the HEMS base at Niebüll hospital and operates daily from 7 a.m. to sunset. It is alerted both for emergency rescue missions and intensive care transports between hospitals (dual use).
With "Christoph Europa 5", the DRF Luftrettung has, for the first time, established cross-border air rescue missions to Denmark. The German-Danish air rescue has been well established.
The crew
The German-Danish team consists of three pilots, eight paramedics and 17 emergency physicians. Three German emergency physicians work in Denmark, three paramedics come from the Danish rescue service partner Falck. Managing paramedics is Carsten Dummann.
An experienced team
The emergency physicians are medical specialists, most of them anaesthetists. As well as the paramedics, they are well experienced in ground rescue services. All paramedics are trained HEMS Crew Members and undergo constant training programs. This additional qualification allows them to assist the pilots with navigation and air space observation.
The pilots are highly qualified and experienced. They need to have extensive flying experience before they start flying air rescue missions. They train their knowledge in regular safety trainings.
Worth mentioning
"Christoph Europa 5" is used for cross-border missions between Denmark and Germany.
Mission area
With "Christoph Europa 5", emergency medical care is improved, in particular for the population in the northwest of Schleswig-Holstein, the North Frisian islands and holms as well as the western coast of the danish administrative district Syddanmark. During holiday seasons, thousands of tourists in these German and Danish regions will also profit from the air rescue system.
The helicopter starts within two minutes of an alert. It can reach emergency scenes in a 50 kilometer radius within a maximum of 15 minutes. Especially in the rural areas or islands in the mission area of "Christoph Europa 5", fast air rescue can be life-saving. The helicopter only needs eleven flight minutes from Niebüll to the Danish island of Rømø and only seven flight minutes to the German island of Föhr.
