New emergency helicopters to bolster rescue services in Bulgaria

10 December 2019

With support from ERDF funding, the Bulgarian government is acquiring an air rescue system. A new emergency helicopter will be purchased as early as 2020. The new helicopter could cost up to EUR 4 million and will come fully equipped for medical rescue. Bulgaria’s deputy minister of regional development, Denitsa Nikolova, announced it will be used for transportation of patients and rescue efforts. Bulgaria is the only EU country without a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service. Medical helic

With support from ERDF funding, the Bulgarian government is acquiring an air rescue system. A new emergency helicopter will be purchased as early as 2020.

The new helicopter could cost up to EUR 4 million and will come fully equipped for medical rescue. Bulgaria’s deputy minister of regional development, Denitsa Nikolova, announced it will be used for transportation of patients and rescue efforts.

Bulgaria is the only EU country without a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service. Medical helicopters there could help reduce the number of road accident victims by 25-30 %.

Helicopters help in locations not accessible by ambulances, such as mountainous areas or after disasters, where victims can be lifted with a rope and hoist.

Statistical data shows that emergency assistance is most effective in the first 60 minutes after suffering severe injuries.

Mountain rescue inspector Krassimir Stoyanov, who has long-term experience in helicopter rescue, said it would be best if Bulgaria had at least four helicopter bases, in the cities of Sofia, Plovdiv, Burgas, Varna or Pleven.

A total of EUR 20 million has been allocated for the air rescue system under the Regions in Growth operational programme.

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Source article on https://trud.bg/ 01/12/2019

Authors: Pavlina Zhivkova, Iva Yanakieva