Today's action: Getting ready for take off

Lifeliner 1, the helimed service from Amsterdam, was called to a farm in Zeewolde, just outside of Almere, this afternoon. Just before they were scrambled the fire crew from Almere Buiten were sent to the same farm for what was thought to be a toxic gas related incident.

Never knowing what calls like this may lead to I went out in the car and got to the farm in about 10 to 15 minutes, just to see an ambulance leaving, rushing an injured worker to hospital. The helicopter had landed in a field behind the farm and the trauma doctor was in the ambulance taking the victim to hospital. I don't know the extent of the injuries and can only hope the victim will be fine.

The fire crew worked in one of the farm's stables for quite some time to get the remainder of the toxic gasses out, that had formed in the stables while processing manure. Meanwhile the helicopter was getting ready to go back to Amsterdam again to pick up the crew's doctor from the hospital where the victim was being taken.

This is how it often goes. The pilot flies the aircraft, the paramedic and the doctor are being dropped off to help the ambulance crew with treating the patient and in some cases the doctor travels with the ambulance to the hospital, continuing treatment en route. What's left for the paramedic and the pilot is getting ready for take off.