In Sweden as in most countries there has been an increasing use of airborne transports for medical purposes during the last decade (Fig. 1). The majority of these transports have been made by helicopters. The climate and the geographical position of Sweden in the far north of Europe presents problems to a helicopter rescue organization. The area of Sweden is approximately 400,000 square kilometers, which is a little more than that of Italy and less than that of France. There are about 8.5 mill, inhabitants which means an average of 20 per square kilometer. The population is unevenly distributed. There are only three densely populated areas: around Stockholm, around Gothenburgh and in the southern most part of Sweden with 250 respectively 150 inhabitants per square kilometer. In the middle and in the north of Sweden there are less than 5 persons per square kilometer. In the mountain regions there are even less. Temperatures ranging from about +25°C in summertime to below - 20°C in the winter are not uncommon.

There is a nationwide alarm system with a common telephone number for all emergency situations and alarm centers, which direct a call for assistance to the proper rescue organization. Almost all medical services in Sweden are provided by regional governments. Adequately equipped and staffed hospitals exist all over the country. The roads are generally of good quality, but outside the urban areas the distance from the place of an accident or a medical emergency to a hospital is usually great.