30-Apr-2024 Source: ADAC Luftrettung
[electronic translation] The non-profit ADAC Luftrettung looks back on 40 successful years at its Fulda location. On April 3, 1984, the ADAC rescue helicopter “Christoph 28” took off from its station at the Fulda Clinic for the first time to provide quick help from the air. Since then, the crew has been called to around 43,000 missions.
From sunrise, at the earliest at 7 a.m., until 30 minutes after sunset, “Christoph 28” flies to injured people and those in need of help within a radius of around 70 kilometers. The crew is ready to go within two minutes. The area of operation extends across the regions of East Hesse, South Thuringia and Lower Franconia.
To ensure the best possible care, an emergency doctor, an emergency paramedic (TC HEMS) and the pilot must always be on board during an operation. A total of 26 team members are on rotation at the station in Fulda – 17 emergency doctors from the Fulda Clinic, six emergency paramedics (TC HEMS) from the DRK Fulda district association and three pilots from ADAC Luftrettung.
The leading crew of “Christoph 28” consists of station manager and pilot Frank Martini, emergency doctor Dr. Frank Schröder and TC HEMS Andreas Schrimpf.
“On the anniversary of “Christoph 28”, we not only look back on the successful history of our air rescue station in Fulda, but also acknowledge the trusting cooperation with the Fulda Clinic and the local German Red Cross. We have been laying an important foundation for this for four decades emergency care in the region,” emphasizes Frédéric Bruder, Managing Director of ADAC Luftrettung gGmbH.
40 years ago, the Fulda air rescue station on the inner-German border was supposed to close the last gap in the West German air rescue network. At the beginning, the crew of the Fulda rescue helicopter flew over the cathedral city with a BO 105 with an operational radius of almost 35 kilometers. In the first full year of operation, the rescue crew was able to record 570 missions. With reunification, the flight area expanded and the number of operations increased. 20 years after it went into operation, the switch to the EC 135 from Airbus Helicopters took place. The station has been flying with an EC 135 P2 since January 2014. The air rescue service is run by the Hessian State Office for Care and Health.
Last year, “Christoph 28” responded to 1,425 emergencies. The main reasons for use were cardiovascular diseases at 33 percent, followed by accidents at 29 percent and neurological emergencies (15 percent). The operations are coordinated via the central control center of the Fulda fire department.
On Saturday, July 13, 2024, ADAC Luftrettung invites you to the official anniversary event in Fulda. In collaboration with the Fulda Clinic, the station opens its doors to celebrate together with numerous companions from the past 40 years as well as people from the region.
