Beijing emergency helicopter flies to Hebei to rescue Swedish boy
Yesterday, the 999 emergency "Squirrel" helicopter, which had been in trial use for just two and a half months, was deployed for the first time, successfully completing an intercity medical evacuation mission. The round trip took 3 hours and 10 minutes, transporting a 5-year-old Swedish boy from Zhangjiakou to Beijing.
Swedish child injured in Zhangjiakou
At 8 a.m. yesterday, staff at the Qinghe 999 Emergency Center were already busy. At the center’s helipad, several doctors made multiple trips to prepare medications, while a 999 ambulance stood ready. Based on the boy’s condition, medical personnel determined that monitoring equipment and a suction device would be needed during both air and ground transport, so they conducted advance testing and calibration of these devices.
Half an hour later, the 999 emergency helicopter, carrying medical staff and equipment, took off from Badaling Airport and headed north, bound for Zhangjiakou.
According to the 999 Emergency Center, the previous morning they received a report that a 5-year-old foreign boy had been injured while skiing in Zhangjiakou. Based on initial assessments, the injury was a closed abdominal wound, possibly involving a splenic contusion. Due to limited local medical facilities in Zhangjiakou, the boy urgently needed to be transferred to a major hospital in Beijing for treatment.
Upon receiving the report, the emergency center activated its holiday contingency plan and notified medical staff to prepare for treatment. At the same time, they contacted Beijing Capital Helicopter General Aviation Service Co., Ltd., and ultimately decided to dispatch a helicopter to Zhangjiakou to bring the patient to Beijing.
Inter-city evacuation completed in 190 minutes
According to He Chi, vice president of Capital Helicopter Company, an open square about 1 kilometer from the local hospital was chosen as the temporary helipad in Zhangjiakou the previous evening. The helicopter tasked with the evacuation is called the "Squirrel," and the flight crew consisted of an experienced captain with 5,000 flight hours and a less experienced co-pilot. In addition to the injured boy and his family, the aircraft also carried a doctor and a nurse from an international rescue organization.
The flight distance from Zhangjiakou to Beijing is approximately 220 kilometers. At 9:10 a.m. yesterday, the helicopter arrived in Zhangjiakou. After handing over with the local hospital and preparing the patient for transport, the helicopter took off from Zhangjiakou at 10:55 a.m. on its return journey.
At 11:40 a.m., the helicopter landed smoothly on the 999-dedicated helipad at Shangqing Bridge on the North Fifth Ring Road. The patient was carried by four stretcher-bearers to an ambulance that had been waiting at the helipad. After a quick handover, the 999 ambulance, with its blue emergency lights flashing, sped toward the New Century Children’s Hospital near Yuetan.
According to the accompanying doctor, the patient was taken to the hospital’s emergency department for further treatment yesterday afternoon. Around 7 p.m. that evening, the hospital informed reporters that the patient had been transferred from the emergency department to a specialized unit, but the family preferred not to disclose further details.
High costs may be covered by insurance
The total cost of the boy’s evacuation and medical treatment was around 100,000 yuan, roughly in line with the current hourly flight cost of 30,000 yuan for Beijing’s medical emergency helicopters. Reporters learned that since the child was insured abroad, the expenses will be covered by the insurance company.
Tian Zhenbiao, deputy director of the 999 Emergency Center, said that ordinary citizens can also call 999 to request a medical emergency helicopter. As helicopter rescue services are still in their early stages in China, the costs are relatively high. He revealed that the 999 Emergency Center is currently in discussions with insurance companies and relevant funds, and patient costs are expected to decrease in the future.
It is understood that emergency helicopters are usually stationed at Badaling Airport in Yanqing County. Citizens in need of evacuation can call 999 for consultation. The emergency center will assess factors such as the patient’s condition, location, weather, and air traffic control regulations to determine whether a helicopter can be dispatched and if air transport is necessary. Helicopters will carry out rescue missions while ensuring flight safety. If the patient’s location is inconvenient, an ambulance or other vehicle may first transport the patient to a more open area where the helicopter can rendezvous for evacuation.
News Background
"Air-ground" three-dimensional rescue system takes shape
Since October last year, the city’s 120 and 999 emergency centers have successively conducted helicopter rescue drills. The deployment of helicopters by these two major emergency agencies marks the development of the city’s emergency response from ground-based to three-dimensional air-space operations, establishing an "air-ground" integrated rescue system.
Abroad, air emergency services are common. For example, in Germany, helicopter rescue stations cover 95% of the national territory. In countries like the U.S. and Japan, ordinary citizens can also call for emergency helicopters.
Currently, the city’s air rescue operations use the Eurocopter AS350B3 (6-seater), commonly known as the "Squirrel." This type of helicopter can fly from the North Fifth Ring Road to the South Fifth Ring Road in just 10 to 15 minutes. In the future, the city aims to establish a rescue radius of 200 to 300 kilometers.