Netcare 911 celebrates 15 years of lifesaving missions
South African emergency medical services provider Netcare 911 recently celebrated two notable operational milestones
Helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) provider Netcare 911 celebrated both its 15th anniversary, and its 10,000th lifesaving mission. David Stanton, Head of Clinical and Education of Netcare 911, said: “Not only has Netcare 911 marked this milestone in its service to the community but also that the HEMS, which is popularly known as the ‘Angels of Mercy’, has now flown more than 10,000 missions. These achievements bring home to us, the many critically injured or ill patients whose lives we helped to save, highlighting the immense contribution the service has made within our country over this time.”
The 10,000th mission
The person who was assisted in the milestone 10,000th HEMS flight was a seriously injured gunshot victim from the Pretoria region, who required urgent transfer to, and medical intervention at, a hospital with an appropriately equipped trauma centre where he could receive the highly specialised medical care necessitated by his injuries. The patient is recovering well in a Johannesburg hospital.
“Having HEMS as an integral part of our nationwide emergency medical service means that we can swiftly reach patients in metropolitan and outlying areas, including the most remote locations”, Stanton explained. “In cities, for example, traffic is often gridlocked, and a helicopter can reach a critically injured patient much quicker than a response car or an ambulance to commence life-saving treatment. Once patients are stabilised the helicopter can fly them to the most appropriate hospital very quickly for further specialized care.”
Operational area and fleet
The air medical operator currently operates 24-hour HEMS bases in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. Its aircraft fleet includes Bell 407, Bell 222 and Bell 430 helicopters, all of which are fully configured to enable ICU level of care to all patients. Fitted with the latest in diagnostic, ventilation and monitoring equipment, the emergency medical crews are able to continue providing care at an ICU level throughout the patient’s transfer to hospital.
Clara Bullock
Clara Bullock is a writer for ITIJ and AirMed&Rescue. Initially a freelance writer for publications ranging from gardening news to music magazines, she has made the transition to writing about the ins and outs of travel insurance and aeromedicine. In her spare time she reviews books on Instagram and eats pasta.