Sixteen years with the Danish Search and Rescue Helicopter Service

The Danish helicopter rescue service in its present form was founded in 1966. The use of the Sikorsky (S-61) helicopter has generally been satisfactory. In 1973, the crew was supplemented by an aerospace-medically-educated and helicopter-trained physician. From 1973 to 1989 there were 5,733 missions, of which direct medical intervention occurred in 2075 cases; 94% of the missions supported the civilian public health service in Denmark. Many sorts of diseases and injuries have been seen, but especially trauma, abdominal, and cardiopulmonary diseases. Experience has shown the benefit of having a designated physician, specially trained in aerospace medicine and acute medicine/surgery, as a permanent crewmember.