Air Rescue service of DRF extends operational hours and boosts night flying proficiency in Bremen
In a significant move to enhance emergency medical care, the DRF Luftrettung in Bremen has extended the operational hours of their helicopter, Christoph Weser, to include night flights since October 27, 2024. This extension allows the helicopter to operate after sunset, providing vital emergency services during the darker winter months.
Equipped with state-of-the-art technology and advanced night vision goggles, Christoph Weser ensures safety and precision during night flights. The helicopter, optimally designed for emergency rescue and demanding intensive care transports, is now capable of conducting life-saving emergency missions in the dark.
Ingo Reckermann, station manager of DRF Luftrettung in Bremen, emphasised the importance of this operational change, stating that it is a decisive measure to further optimise emergency medical care. The extended operating time, or "Randzeiterweiterung", ensures that critical medical interventions can be delivered even during nighttime, which is especially vital in winter when darkness falls early.
The extended hours also provide a crucial measure to optimise the treatment of critical emergencies during rush hour and evening traffic. A flight nurse has been added to the medical team to support doctors during night flights, increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the doctor's medical care during complex transports.
Christoph Weser is deployed for highly complex and time-critical transports of intensively medically treated patients. Services provided by Christoph Weser include ECMO transports (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) and other specialized transfers.
The crews of Christoph Weser have been trained to navigate and monitor airspace during night flights. Pilots and emergency paramedics with the additional qualification HEMS TC have been trained for night flights to ensure safe and precise operations.
This extension of operational hours is expected to significantly improve medical emergency care in the region during the darker months. DRF Luftrettung has invested in the training of the crews of Christoph Weser for safe and precise nighttime deployments, ensuring reliable and faster treatment of severely ill or injured patients in the evening hours.
[1] Source: DRF Luftrettung press release, October 27, 2024.
The Christoph Weser helicopter, now equipped for night flights, integrates science and technology to deliver health-and-wellness services during emergencies. Its advanced night vision goggles and specialized medical team ensure fitness-and-exercise routines can continue even during critical moments under the cover of darkness.
