RESCUE OPERATIONS IN THE SWISS ALPS IN 1990 AND 1991

Every year in the Swiss Alps, there are approximately 3000 accidents. Over 90% of victims (1990/1991: n = 3500-3800) are rescued by helicopt er. In approximately 20% of accidents, a helicopter winch mission is n ecessary (1990/1991: n = 600-700 rescued persons). Swiss Air Rescue (R EGA) is responsible for two thirds of all rescues in the off-road area s (1990/1991: n = 1958/2321 persons). All REGA rescue missions are reg istered according to medical (National advisory committee for aeronaut ics (NACA)) and topographical index. Over two thirds of all winch oper ations take place in accessible, and one third in difficult accessible sites of accidents. Of these, 2% are extremely difficult rescues, e.g . upon the north faces of the Eiger or the Matterhorn. Over 75% of all winch-rescued persons were rated NACA III-VII, where medical assistan ce is considered to be necessary at the site of accident. The assignme nt of experienced emergency doctors, trained in alpine techniques, imp roves the quality of preclinical treatment even in difficult sites, al though clinical demands are not always completely practicable in the f ield and the possibilities of treatment are often limited by adverse c limate and/or topography. An efficient medical-assisted helicopter res cue service has an important impact on the survival chances following alpine sport accidents.