'Hazy skies but mission remains clear': RSAF Rescue 10 helicopter airlifts unwell person from ship to SGH

Amid hazy conditions on Wednesday (Oct 15) night, the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) search-and-rescue unit Rescue 10 was activated to conduct a ship-to-hospital medical evacuation.

In a social media post on Thursday morning, the air force said that the evacuation was for a crew member on board a vessel at sea.

"Hazy skies, but our mission remains clear," RSAF wrote.

The patient was subsequently evacuated to the Singapore General Hospital for treatment and is reportedly conscious and in a stable condition, the air force said.

"Wishing the patient a speedy recovery, and extending our appreciation to our RSAF crew and healthcare professionals who stand ready 24/7 to save lives," it added.

Air quality in Singapore deteriorated throughout Wednesday, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) in the very unhealthy range in western Singapore.

Elsewhere, PSI readings were in the unhealthy range.

The RSAF maintains a 24/7 unit, callsign Rescue 10, to respond to life-saving missions at short notice.

They are often scrambled to evacuate personnel who require immediate medical attention to hospitals, including from civilian vessels in the vicinity of Singapore.

The aircraft used, a H225M medium lift helicopter , achieved full operational capability in April 2024.

According to the Ministry of Defence, it has a range in excess of 400nm (740km).

10 月 15 日星期三晚间，在雾霾天气下，新加坡空军第 10 搜救队启动了从船上到医院的医疗后送行动。

周四上午，空军在社交媒体上发帖称，此次撤离行动是为了营救海上一艘船上的船员。

“天空虽有雾霾，但我们的任务依然清晰，”新加坡空军写道。

空军方面表示，该患者随后被送往新加坡中央医院接受治疗，据报道目前意识清醒，情况稳定。

声明还补充道：“祝愿患者早日康复，并感谢新加坡空军机组人员和医护人员全天候待命，拯救生命。”

新加坡的空气质量在周三持续恶化，新加坡西部地区的 24 小时污染物标准指数 (PSI) 已达到非常不健康的水平。

其他地方的PSI读数都处于不健康范围内。

新加坡空军设有一支 24 小时全天候待命的救援队，呼号为“救援 10”，随时准备在短时间内执行拯救生命的任务。

他们经常紧急调动救援力量，将需要立即就医的人员（包括新加坡附近民用船只上的人员）疏散到医院。

使用的飞机是 H225M 中型运输直升机，于 2024 年 4 月达到全面作战能力。

据国防部称，其射程超过 400 海里（740 公里）。