The Beijing Red Cross 999 Emergency Medical Center is conducting a simulated helicopter medical rescue drill for ski injuries. Photo by Zhong Jing, distributed by Xinhua News Agency Beijing Channel.
Xinhua News Agency Beijing Channel, January 4 (Zhong Jing) — On the 2nd, the Beijing Red Cross 999 Emergency Medical Center conducted a simulated helicopter medical rescue drill for ski injuries at the Huairou International Ski Resort. This was the first time the 999 Emergency Medical Center’s dedicated medical helicopter had conducted a rescue drill in a snowfield.
At 9:10 a.m. on the 2nd, a female tourist “sustained an injury” on an intermediate ski slope, resulting in a head wound, a lower limb fracture, and loss of consciousness. After receiving the emergency call, the 999 Emergency Medical Center learned that the injured person was located in the middle section of the intermediate slope, where ambulances could not reach, and the patient’s condition was critical. The center immediately activated its air medical rescue plan and notified the Huairou Air Rescue Base to proceed with the rescue.
Meanwhile, the ski resort dispatched two members of its snow rescue team, who arrived at the scene with a simple stretcher to provide initial emergency treatment to the injured. Twenty minutes later, the 999 medical helicopter arrived at the incident site. However, due to the soft and slippery snow, the helicopter’s propellers kept rotating at low speed to prevent slipping or spinning during takeoff. At the same time, the two snow rescue team members carried the injured person down from the ski slope on a stretcher and handed them over to the onboard medical staff. Wei Yanfang, leader of the air rescue team, quickly performed emergency procedures including neck stabilization, splinting of the lower limbs, and opening the airway. The patient was then swiftly lifted onto the 999 medical rescue helicopter and transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The person in charge of the Huairou International Ski Resort said that skiing is an exciting but dangerous sport. Before skiing, it is essential to do sufficient warm-up exercises, wear a hat and gloves, and try to wear professional ski clothing. It is also advisable to remove regular eyeglasses and wear ski goggles, as the snow reflects strong sunlight, and the cold wind during skiing can be very irritating to the eyes. Moreover, broken eyeglasses can cause eye injuries if one falls. At the same time, skiers should choose slopes that match their skill level and must not overestimate their abilities by opting for overly advanced runs.
It is reported that earlier this year, the 999 Emergency Medical Center reached cooperation intentions with several major ski resorts, including the Huairou International Ski Resort and the Jinhui Ski Resort. In the future, it will gradually establish linkage mechanisms with other ski resorts around Beijing. Once ski tourists encounter emergencies such as injuries, helicopters will arrive at the scene as quickly as possible to provide treatment and transport. (End)