Twenty years of experience gained from innumerable deployments
The story of its creation makes Carelink unique in itself.
The loss of Swissair’s flight SR 111 off Halifax, Canada in September 1998 led to days and weeks of deployment for the Swissair Emergency Care Team. Its performance was exemplary. And, as a result, its leader Franz Bucher was subsequently flooded with inquiries from in and outside Switzerland. Some wanted training and advice; others were looking for more concrete help. And it was this strong interest that prompted the creation of the independent Carelink organization on Swissair’s behalf.
2001: the formal launch
Carelink was officially established on the Gurten near Bern on 28 August 2001 – not initially as a foundation, but as an association. Just over a month later, on 2 October 2001, Swissair went into insolvency. Following Swissair’s grounding, the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) showed even more interest and commissioned Franz Bucher to further develop the Carelink organization together with his colleague Richard Frei.
The experience and contacts of the two pioneers soon proved vital, when a Crossair flight crashed near Bassersdorf on approach to Zurich Airport on 24 November 2001.
The association became a foundation in June 2003. Carelink was now independent of the Swiss Federal Railways, too, though the SBB has remained a key Carelink partner.
The association became a foundation in June 2003. Carelink was now independent of the Swiss Federal Railways, too, though the SBB has remained a key Carelink partner.
Co-founder Richard Frei left Carelink in 2013 for age reasons. And Franz Bucher stepped down as CEO in 2016, handing over operational responsibility to Walter Kälin and taking a seat on the Board of Trustees.
Steady growth
The pioneering years were now over. And Carelink continued to grow, year by year. Its team of volunteers now numbers some 350 nationwide. And around 80 of these are certified emergency psychologists.
Carelink has performed countless deployments since its foundation. Its client base now extends to around 150 companies and organizations. And public-sector institutions put their faith in it, too.
It’s thanks to our volunteers, and to our own prudent development, that Carelink has become what it is today: Switzerland’s leading private-sector care organization.
