Stockholm opens up for second EMS helicopter

Stockholm’s County Council’s board for public health and medical care has decided to open up for the possibility to operate a second EMS helicopter in Stockholm all year round. The “summer helicopter”, an extra EC 135 that serves as a supplement to the primary EMS helicopter between 15 May and 15 September each year, is considered an important resource for the isolated parts of the county according to the board.

The extra helicopter replied to 524 emergency medical calls in the summer of 2002, compared to 2088 emergency calls for the primary helicopter for the whole year. The summer helicopter has been operated each summer since 2007, when it was resumed by the political “Alliance” after three years on hold.