Rompetrol - SMURD Project for Equipping the Medical Helicopters

"Since 2009, we have been partners with SMURD, supporting emergency medical services, which is an essential pillar of the healthcare system. Our support over the years has varied, from providing fuel for medical helicopters to acquiring fully equipped mobile training vans, ECMO medical equipment, protective equipment for rescuers, a mobile intensive care unit with beds, and a modern training system for rescuers using VR technology. Through our joint projects, with national-level impact, we support intervention teams in a critical field where seconds mean life" - Cătălin Dumitru, Chief Officer Retail & Marketing, Rompetrol.

The equipment will be used on helicopters in Bucharest, Mureş, Braşov, Craiova, Galaţi, Constanţa, Iaşi, Timişoara, Caransebeş, and two other medical aircrafts that will soon be part of SMURD's fleet.

"The continuous improvement of the means of evaluation and preliminary diagnosis of critical patients in the pre-hospital phase represents for us a top objective of medical support for which we make constant efforts. Equipping the helicopters and the two SMURD planes with ultrasound machines and portable devices for the analysis of several biological parameters is extremely important for the entire decision-making process underlying the treatment and transport of such a patient and can make a significant difference to his chances of survival. We are proud that the support we have enjoyed from Rompetrol for over 14 years marks a new success for the emergency system in Romania and we thank them for the help offered to colleagues who fight every day to save those who need us the most – Dr. Raed Arafat, Head of Department for Emergency Situations." - Dr. Raed Arafat, Chief of the Department for Emergency Situations.

The portable ultrasound machine allows for a quick evaluation of the patient at the intervention site, providing high-quality images of the most critical medical emergencies, especially traumatic ones, which can subsequently influence both therapeutic and transport decisions. The images can be digitally outsourced and transmitted to hospitals and specialist doctors when needed.

The portable analyzer allows the intervention team to perform a wide range of essential analyses for critical patient care with just 3 drops of blood collected from the patient, providing immediate results. The device can perform any type of blood analysis, but the most common ones at an accident site include glucose levels, electrolytes, hemoglobin, arterial gases, and acid-base balance, allowing the team to monitor a critically ill intubated and ventilated patient during extended transportation. The analyses are also relevant for identifying the cause of a cardiac arrest, enabling treatment adjustments during resuscitation maneuvers, leading to a favorable patient outcome.

Between 2020 and 2023, Rompetrol has invested over $1.5 million in projects aimed at developing the emergency system at a national level. Last year, the company acquired a virtual reality system, SimX, based on various emergency scenarios with virtual patients - adults and children - in an ambulance, hospital, or accident site, offering limitless possibilities for training rescuers through diverse scenarios. The system can be used nationwide to train doctors, nurses, and paramedics, both individually and as part of a team.