During the Alpine Ski World Championships in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, the athletes' medical care was ensured by a specially provided emergency helicopter from the ÖAMTC air rescue service. In close cooperation with the Austrian Ski Association (ÖSV) and the organizers, a safety concept was implemented that guaranteed rapid first aid in an emergency.
In the run-up to the event, intensive training sessions were held with the mountain rescue service and the Red Cross to simulate different accident and rescue scenarios. The aim was to optimise processes and ensure smooth cooperation between the emergency services. According to Marco Trefanitz, Managing Director of the ÖAMTC Air Rescue Service, every minute counts in alpine skiing. Thanks to the preparatory measures, rapid medical care could be provided directly on the race track in an emergency.
Despite the additional capacity for the major event, general emergency medical care in the region remained fully intact. The emergency medical helicopter used for the World Championship was intended exclusively for racing accidents, while regular air rescue continued to be available to the population. The ÖSV drew a positive conclusion and emphasized the professional cooperation with the ÖAMTC air rescue service, which had proven to be highly reliable.