With the half-term holidays in full swing, it’s no surprise that many people in Luxembourg take advantage of this to head abroad. But foreign travel, in some cases, can offer unintended consequences instead of the expected fun and relaxation. When Luxembourgers experience medical issues while abroad, the Luxembourg Air Rescue (LAR) can be called into action.
Since early December, the LAR has carried out 60 repatriations, with the majority of operations bringing Luxembourgers home from France, Switzerland, Austria and Spain. But in previous years, it has been a different story. Repatriations from winter sports resorts are usually due to fractures; in other countries, people are more likely to need support due to illness or car accidents.
This year, the lack of snow at ski resorts has not impacted the number of people with injuries. Didier Dandrifosse, Head of the LAR’s Medical Department, describes how things proceed after the first contact.
“First, we check directly if the person is a member of the LAR. Then we take a few minutes to collect details about the situation and to assess the urgency of the emergency. If it is a significant emergency and the person has not yet received any medical treatment, we direct them to a hospital or other medical care structure as quickly as possible. Then we contact the hospital to organise repatriation in the best and most efficient conditions.
If the victim has already been cared for by foreign medical services, the LAR requests their patient file. The urgency of a case also depends on the health system in the country where the accident or illness took place. However, the LAR also receives calls for less urgent incidents.
“We regularly receive non-urgent calls from members seeking advice over medical issues. For example, if a child falls sick while they’re away and they aren’t sure what to do, whether they need to seek hospital care or not. So we always have a medical professional on hand who can offer guidance and advice and help to reassure them. We’ll then stay in contact with the member and frequently the situation is resolved after a few hours.”
While the LAR’s services are free for its approximately 180,000 members, non-members may also make use of their support, but must pay upfront costs. The National Health Fund does not reimburse these costs.
