Rega’s hectic New Year
The Rega operations centre and its helicopter crews were challenged to respond to a high number of callouts over the New Year.
The Rega operations centre and its helicopter crews were challenged to respond to a high number of callouts over the New Year, with helicopters flying about 160 missions on 31 December and 1 January. On New Year's Eve alone, the Rega Operations Centre organised around 110 helicopter missions – the most it has ever done in one day.
Almost two-thirds of the missions were the rescues of injured winter sports enthusiasts. Most of the casualties suffered shoulder and back injuries and broken bones. In addition, the Rega crews were called to respond to avalanches in which casualties were buried in Zuoz, Tujetsch and Blüemlisalp. Due to the high volume of use, all Rega bases posted high numbers of flights on New Year's Eve, although most of the missions were undertaken by crews of Rega’s bases Wilderswil in the Bernese Oberland and Mollis in Glarnerland, which each reported 11 missions.