Tuscany’s helicopter rescue service, incorporating helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) and search and rescue (SAR), was established in 1999 and is structured across three bases in Florence, Grosseto and Massa-Carrara.

The HEMS Congress – a conference about air medicine – is held every two years at the Massa-Carrara base in Massa Cinquale Airport, and has now reached its 10th edition. The latest conference took place on 20–21 September 2024, and has become the reference event in Italy for all of those who work in HEMS and SAR.

Dr Alberto Baratta, creator of the HEMS Congress, and an anesthetist and resuscitation doctor as well as the director of the Massa-Carrara HEMS base, explained the reason for the success of the conference: “In 2005, I felt the need to take stock of the experiences and needs of the medical and aeronautical components of the helicopter rescue service. I then organized a meeting of qualified personnel, which was also attended by personnel from the nearby navy helicopter base. They also brought a static display of the AgustaWestland HH-101, which at the time was a helicopter recently introduced into service. AgustaWestland (now Leonardo) also showed interest by bringing a prototype of the AW139, a machine that, at the time, was in the development phase and has since become a worldwide success.”

The idea was so well received that operators from all over Italy took part in the subsequent editions, called HEMS Congress, including doctors and nurses; pilots and technicians; mountain rescue technicians; aircraft manufacturers; companies producing medical and technical equipment; personnel and helicopters from the armed forces and police; and officials from aviation authorities.

To date, the HEMS Congress is the only congress in Italy in which all the categories mentioned take part. Here, all of them have the opportunity to meet, discuss, develop commercial agreements and cultivate personal relationships.

The 2024 edition spanned two days, and was divided into three working sessions, each of which was attended by numerous speakers. The sessions were divided into themes: medical, aeronautical, and civil protection. The sessions consisted of reports and debates that touched on many topics:

• Medical session: medical intervention techniques, thoracic trauma, pediatric transport, nursing skills, and suspension syndrome
• Aeronautical session: the new European HEMS regulations, highlighting hoist operations, single-pilot flights including night operations, the age limit of 65 years for HEMS pilots, use of oxygen, and 60m low-level routes; performance-based navigation (PBN) routes; urban air mobility regulation; and self-induced and external pressure in HEMS
• Civil protection session: the role of the armed forces and state services in major emergencies, simulation of prolonged field care, and the use of the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) catcher system.

Numerous companies exhibited their products in the large pavilion: Airgreen, Avincis, Airbus, Leonardo, Mecaer Aviation Group, Bucher, BMA, Kong, Elifriulia, Stryker, Bexen, Cosinuss, Intersurgical, Teleflex, Sago Medica, NVolo, and others.

The Italian Army had a live demonstration of a simulated medevac.

The Italian helicopter rescue service is unique, extremely modern and operational in all environments, including the most hostile ones at high altitudes in the Alps

The Italian helicopter rescue service is unique, extremely modern and operational in all environments, including the most hostile ones at high altitudes in the Alps. Nine aerial emergency service operators manage the 49 HEMS bases across Italy and its isles, involving more than 400 pilots and technicians, with more than 40,000 flight hours and 150,000 missions per year.

Dr Baratta highlighted that “the helicopter rescue service is constantly evolving and developing, and in this perspective the participation of foreign operators would be welcome, whose contribution of experience and professionalism would be a further opportunity for growth, both for Italian and foreign operators”.

The 11th edition of the HEMS Congress is scheduled for September 2026.