Rega reports record year
The Swiss aeromedical operator came to the aid of 14,000 patients last year – the highest figure ever achieved in its 70 years of operations
The company’s intervention center also organized a total of 20,992 interventions in 2022 – an increase of 16.5 per cent year-on-year, equivalent to around 58 missions every 24 hours. This included 16,256 helicopter missions that year – a 13.4 per cent increase compared with 2021.
On-site interventions – in which the patient was treated at the scene of an incident – increased by 16.2 per cent to 9,813 missions. Meanwhile, interhospital transfers also increased by 7.1 per cent to 3,057.
Rega stated that the good weather conditions, as well as the popularity of outdoor leisure activities among the Swiss population, were a key driving factor behind the growth of mission figures in 2022. The year was reportedly the sunniest since measurements began, according to the Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology (MeteoSwiss).
Internationally, Rega planes were involved in a total of 1,045 medical repatriations, 21.8 per cent more than in 2021. Rega crews also attended 233 medical repatriations on commercial airliners – a 108 per cent increase year-on-year as international air traffic returned post-pandemic.
The service previously reported a quieter-than-average Christmas period, responding to around 70 people in distress between the 24 and 26 December.
Oliver Cuenca
Oliver Cuenca was a Junior Editor at the Voyageur Group. He was previously a News and Features Journalist for the rail magazine IRJ until 2021, and studied MA Magazine Journalism at Cardiff University. His favourite helicopter is the AW169 – the workhorse of the UK air ambulance sector! He also led the creation of Waypoint: The AirMed&Rescue podcast, serving as its Production Editor and co-host.