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Assistance in natural disasters

Find out what tasks Rega carries out in the case of natural hazard events and what it does to be at the service of the Swiss population at all times.

Whether floods, rockfalls or mudslides: extreme natural hazard events often leave behind destroyed infrastructure and impassable access routes. When entire valleys and villages are cut off from the outside world, assistance by air is the only way to rescue people and evacuate them from the danger zone. Thanks to its network of 14 helicopter bases spread throughout Switzerland, which are on standby around the clock, Rega’s Operations Center can, within a very short space of time, call out the necessary helicopter crews, coordinate the assistance from the air, and dispatch additional rescue teams and specialists from all over Switzerland to the incident site. 

The primary response to a natural disaster can be divided into separate phases. In each phase, Rega assumes different tasks, which can vary depending on the incident.

Rega is there whenever it is needed 

In the event of a natural disaster, Rega is a reliable partner for the Confederation, the cantons and the general public. It goes to great lengths to achieve this. The fact that this is possible in the first place is thanks, among other things, to the support of its patrons. This unique connection between Rega and the Swiss population shows just what can be achieved with solidarity.

Primary management of a natural hazard Event

1st phase

“Rescue and evacuation”

The first emergency calls come in at various call centres. The focus now is on rescuing injured persons and evacuating people from the danger zone. It increasingly becomes apparent that this is a major incident. The Rega Operations Center calls out various helicopter crews, as well as mountain rescuers from the Swiss Alpine Club SAC. The rescue hoist, a standard piece of equipment on all Rega helicopters, is often deployed. Thanks to Rega’s 24/7 standby service, its twin-engine helicopters and the appropriate training of the cockpit crews, rescues can also be performed at night.

 

3rd phase

“Search for missing persons”

Seach and rescue dogs belonging to Swiss Alpine Club SAC mountain rescuers and Rega’s search helicopter are used to search for missing persons. The helicopter is equipped with a thermal imaging camera and a mobile phone location device. In liaison with the competent authorities, Rega’s specially trained search specialists narrow down the search area and draw up a grid for the helicopter to follow.

 

2nd phase

“Overview and risk situation”

To support the authorities, Rega flies specialists, such as geologists or members of crisis teams, to the incident area. This enables the authorities to obtain an overview of the extent of the damage from the air and to assess the risk situation – of further rockfalls or mudslides, for example. This phase also includes coordination with other rescue partners in the incident area. In the background, the Rega Operations Center calls out add-itional rescue teams of its own in order to be able to maintain the mission over several days.

 

4th phase

“After the incident is before the incident”

After the disaster, processes are analysed and optimised together with the operation partners in order to learn from the experience gained. Methods of collaboration are improved. Joint exercises enable those involved to practise the appropriate procedures so that everything runs smoothly in an emergency.

 

Bridge back home

Rega also helps the Swiss population after natural disasters abroad. An example: in the aftermath of the tsunami in Southeast Asia in 2004, Rega teams flew to Thailand and Sri Lanka to establish contact with local hospitals and prepare patients to be transported home. All three Rega ambulance jets were deployed. Within the space of one week, more than 60 patients were flown back to Switzerland, cared for by a total of 16 medical crews. 

As part of its disaster relief activities abroad, Rega also serves as a link in the Swiss Rescue Chain managed by the Swiss Confederation. For the Rescue Chain, it organises and coordinates the transport of a reconnaissance team to the disaster area and places its Operations Center and its aircraft at the organisation’s disposal to perform other tasks.

Further information:

Report: Nature unleashed

Additional information

Themes:

Ambulance jetSAC mountain rescuersReportsRescue helicopter

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