SMURD Romania Air Rescue

SMURD is the Romanian public emergency medical service. Its air rescue unit sends medical crews by helicopter, and by airplane when needed, to people with serious injuries or illness. This is a public programme linked to hospitals, not a private company.

Services

The site says SMURD has flown emergency air medical missions since 1997. Since 2004, working with the Ministry of Administration and Interior, it has covered the whole country with two helicopters. It carries critically ill patients who need fast care from a skilled team.

Aircraft and bases

The helicopters are Eurocopter EC135 aircraft owned by the Special Aviation Unit of the Ministry of Interior. They are based in Bucharest and Targu Mures. The Fundeni Clinical Institute and the Targu Mures County Emergency Clinical Hospital run the helicopter service. The site lists night vision goggles, thermal imaging, a searchlight, rappelling gear and floats for work over water.

Crews

A helicopter crew has at least four people: an emergency or intensive care doctor, a paramedic, a pilot and a co-pilot. An air ambulance team using an airplane has the same make up: a doctor trained in emergency care, a paramedic, a pilot and a co-pilot.

Who it serves

The service is part of the public emergency system in Romania. It is meant for people whose injuries or illness need fast and expert care, often far from a hospital. It is governed by a government emergency ordinance and a joint order from 2004, according to the site. The page also describes the equipment carried on board, including a monitor, a defibrillator, ventilation and suction units, oxygen and a trauma stretcher.

Facts

• Type: public hospital based air medical programme
• Partners: Ministry of Internal Affairs aviation (IGAv), Fundeni Clinical Institute, Targu Mures County Emergency Clinical Hospital
• Bases: Bucharest and Targu Mures