Croatian Army provides 2 helicopters for transport of COVID-19 patients

(Photo: HRZ)

ZAGREB, April 9 (Hina) – The Croatian Army will give support to the Health Ministry’s crisis management team by providing Croatian Air Force’s helicopters, which will be adapted to transport patients infected with the coronavirus, the Defence Ministry said on Thursday.

The crisis management team has had an adapted Mi-171 helicopter at its disposal since Wednesday, and it has been planned that another Mi-171Sh helicopter will be adapted for the purpose of transport of COVID-19 patients.

Since the Croatian Armed Forces do not possess specialised equipment or helicopters suited for transporting patients infected with or suspected to have COVID-19, the Aeronautical Technical Centre in Velika Gorica has devised a solution for adapting the helicopter’s transport cabin.

New operational procedures have been developed for crews and medical teams engaged in transporting patients infected with COVID-19, including complete decontamination of helicopters, crews and medical teams, the Defence Ministry said in its press release.