Boy is first to be airlifted for medical care

An emergency helicopter takes an injured boy to the hospital in Beijing on Jan 3, 2012. [Photo/CFP]

A 5-year-old boy injured while skiing in Zhangjiakou, Hebei province on Jan 2 received emergency care after a 190-minute flight.

The boy, who is not Chinese, may have suffered a spleen injury while skiing and needed to be transferred to Beijing for medical care because local conditions were limited. On Jan 3, the Beijing 999 Emergency Center used a helicopter for an emergency rescue for the first time.

It was the first time a helicopter was used to transfer patients in China, said Li Tao of the Beijing 999 Emergency Center.

The cost of the emergency evacuation was about 100,000 yuan ($15,880), which will be paid by the boy's insurance company.

The 999 Emergency Center is building contacts with insurance companies and funds, and the cost for patient is expected to be lowered.