Helicopters will now be used for emergency rescue in the highway system of Northeast China's Jilin province after an emergency rescue drill was successfully carried out on Dec 6.

A helicopter with the words "Jinhui Rescue" painted on the side lands at the Changchun Branch of the Jilin Highway Public Security Bureau on Dec 6, ready for its emergency rescue drill. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A helicopter with the words "Jinhui Rescue" painted on the side took off from the Changchun Branch of the Jilin Highway Public Security Bureau at 9 am and successfully landed on Hunchun-Ulan Hot Highway 20 minutes later, approximately 544 kilometers away from Songyuan city.

A patient was loaded onto the helicopter on a stretcher and sent to the nearest hospital as soon as the helicopter landed.

Medical workers load a patient onto the emergency helicopter on a stretcher during the rescue drill on Dec 6. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"Aerial rescue service can be a lifesaver when the ambulance gets stuck in traffic, especially on weekends and holidays," said Yan Jinghong, deputy director of the Changchun Branch of the Jilin Highway Public Security Bureau.

The AW119 helicopter, produced by Shanghai Jinhui General Aviation Company, is equipped with first aid equipment such as stretchers, respirators, aspirators, defibrillation monitors and injection pumps. It can carry one patient at a time as well as two medical workers who will conduct emergency treatment during transit to the hospital.