Barbara Bär, health, social and environmental director of the Swiss Canton of Uri, and Swiss Air Rescue Service Rega CEO Ernst Kohler have signed a service agreement between the Canton of Uri and Rega in Erstfeld.

The long-term service agreement reiterates what has already been practised for decades: Rega will operate a helicopter base in the Canton of Uri, ensuring local air rescue services around the clock, 365 days a year. The agreement also stipulates that all air rescue devices in the canton continue to be coordinated by Rega's operations centre, which ensures that the nearest and most appropriate air rescue device is always used. With this agreement there are no costs for the canton: Rega will provide its services as part of its foundation mandate.

From September 1, 2020, as part of the contract renewal, Rega will also station an emergency response vehicle in Erstfeld. This will enable emergency doctors to be driven to the scene if the rescue helicopter has to stay on the ground, for example due to bad weather. This new emergency service element will also enable Rega's existing resources to be better used for the benefit of patients in the canton.

Nothing changes in terms of the alarm: if the canton's medical emergency centre is alerted via emergency number 144 or the Rega operations centre via emergency number 1414, the dispatchers will offer the appropriate rescue equipment. Health director Barbara Bär is convinced: "Rega's emergency doctor vehicle is a valuable addition and improvement for the rescue service of Uri."

The Canton of Uri and Rega have a long shared history: Rega was deployed in the canton as early as 1966 and by 1978 Rega had based one of its own helicopters in Erstfeld. Today, Rega performs more than 1,000 air rescue flights with Leonardo rescue helicopters every year in the Canton of Uri. On average, it flies around 350 patients a year to the Altdorf cantonal hospital for further treatment after emergencies. Rega is also firmly anchored to the local population: Almost two thirds of the people in Uri support Rega with annual donations.