Spain's Guardia Civil recruit medical crew for Balearic helicopter rescues

Spain’s Guardia Civil is collaborating with local medical professionals who will provide support for its mountain rescue operations to across the Balearic Islands of Mallorca (Majorca), Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera.

The announcement follows the accreditation of seven doctors and nine nurses who will join flights from this month (June) to support rescue operations.

The healthcare professionals have completed a one-week training course, delivered by Guardia Civil mountain rescue specialists from their headquarters in Jaca, Granada, and Mallorca. Training included personal interviews, physical tests on a climbing wall, and practical helicopter sessions at Son Sant Joan air base, with a focus on embarking, disembarking, and working inside the aircraft.

Until now, rescues were carried out by Civil Guard agents who were limited to transferring the injured person by helicopter to the hospital or to the nearest ground ambulance. This new initiative means that, from June, the rescues carried out by the Civil Guard will include health personnel able to make an initial assessment, stabilize and care for the injured person.

The mountain rescue group of the Civil Guard carries out an average of 350 rescues in the Balearic Islands each year; in more than half of these rescues, the intervention of a medical professional is required to carry out some emergency care to the injured person.

In around 60 cases a year, the affected people require emergency health intervention due to the severity of the injuries suffered.

Emergency air services operator Avincis recently acquired a new Airbus H145 D3 helicopter, which will provide air rescue services in South Tyrol, Italy.