ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Search and rescue helicopters from the Royal Norwegian Air Force conduct ambulance and search and rescue missions in the Barents Sea. The team on board includes an anaesthesiologist and a paramedic. Operations in this area are challenging due to long distances, severe weather conditions and winter darkness. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 147 ambulance and 29 search and rescue missions in the Barents Sea during 1994-99 were studied retrospectively with special emphasis on operative conditions and medical results. RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION: 35% of the missions were carried out in darkness. Median time from alarm to first patient contact was 3.3 hours and median duration of the missions was 7.3 hours. 48% of the missions involved ships of foreign nationality. About half of the patients had acute illness, dominated by gastrointestinal and heart diseases. Most of the injuries resulted from on-board accidents; open or closed fractures, amputations, and soft tissue damage. 90% of the patients were hospitalised; 7.5% would probably not have survived without early medical treatment and rapid transportation to hospital.
