DRF Luftrettung is investing in the protection of patients and crews to make sure people in medical emergencies can still be rescued as fast as possible. The first step is to equip two HEMS bases with EpiShuttle isolation stretchers. A further eight HEMS bases will soon follow suit.

These stretchers will not only save time on rescue missions, but also offer optimum protection to both crews and patients. The very time-consuming disinfection of helicopters after missions with Covid-19 patients won’t be necessary anymore, saving valuable time.

Dr Jörg Braun, Medical Director at DRF Luftrettung, said: “The innovative EpiShuttles enable patients to be transported as if [they were] in an intensive care unit. The person lies under a transparent cover and can be connected to an intensive respiratory device via airtight access points while being monitored and treated at the same time. In this way, we can fly well-monitored patients quickly and safely to hospitals with free ventilator-equipped intensive-care beds, while our crews are protected from infection even better than before and can continue their life-saving operations.”

One EpiShuttle currently costs about €40,000. Dr Krystian Pracz, Chairman at DRF, said: “DRF Luftrettung has decided to make this important investment in the lives and safety of patients and crews and would highly welcome any support from donors and sponsors for this urgent measure. In these times, in which every minute counts all the more, we want to do everything in our power to be there for people in need.”