Hangar Inauguration at Niebull HEMS Base of the DRF Luftrettung

On April 1st the opening of the new hangar building at the Niebüll HEMS Base was celebrated.

Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte of Denmark was the guest of honour. She inaugurated the new prem-ises of the DRF Luftrettung in the presence of numerous guests.

"I am very glad to celebrate the inauguration of the hangar with you today. We are looking back on a German-Danish success story. With over 1,000 missions per year ‘Christoph Europa 5' is well-established in the rescue system.

Around 10 % of the missions are flown in Denmark. The new premises offer better working conditions for our crews. This benefits the German and Danish patients we are entrusted with", stated Nicole Steiger, member of the Supervisory Board of the DRF Stiftung Luftrettung gemein-nützige AG, in her welcome speech.

Further speakers included Steffen Lutz, CEO of the DRF Stiftung Luftret-tung gemeinnützige AG, Carl Holst, County Mayor of the Danish adminis-trative district of South Denmark, Allan Søgaard Larsen, CEO of the Dan-ish rescue service operator Falck and Albert Pahl, President of the district North Friesland.

Her Royal Highness Princess Benedikte of Denmark, who inaugurated the helicopter in 2005, is closely committed to the work of the Niebüll air res-cuers and she is a honorary member in DRF e.V.

The new building in Niebüll was constructed thanks to the financial support of the health funds in Schleswig-Holstein. "We have to overcome barriers in medical care. This is why the cross-border air rescue is a rewarding in-vestment in the future", explains Dietmar Katzer about the reasons for support, member of the health funds federation vdek Schleswig-Holstein.

In summer an open day for the population is planned where the work of the HEMS base and the new building will be presented.

History of the HEMS Base Niebüll

On April 1st 2005, the DRF Luftrettung stationed a rescue helicopter at the clinic of Niebüll. "Christoph Europe 5" was since located in a tent hangar, the HEMS office was situated in the close clinic building. With the building of the helicopter hangar and the integrated office and social facilities the DRF Luftrettung shows its sustainable commitment to the HEMS base of Niebüll.

It is the goal to improve the emergency care of the population in the Northern part of Schleswig-Holstein as well as of South Denmark in the long run. With "Christoph Europa 5", the cross-boarder air rescue between Germany and Denmark was founded.

This successful cooperation was enabled by a pilot project at the DRF Luftrettung, the Danish rescue service operator Falck, the German region of North Friesland and the Danish district of South Denmark. In order to promote air rescue in Denmark the DRF Luftrettung founded the Dansk Luftambulance A/S together with the Danish rescue service operator Falck.

Background of the HEMS Base of Niebüll

The Niebüll helicopter of the DRF Luftrettung operates daily from 7 a.m. to sunset. "Christoph Europa 5" can reach emergency scenes in a 50 kilometer radius within 15 minutes.

If needed it can also be alerted to urgent transports of intensive care patients between clinics. The helicopter carries full medical equipment on board which is needed for an optimal patient care on board. To date "Christoph Europe 5" has flown a total of 3,710 missions, among them 353 in Denmark.