Air Ambulance and Air Rescue Services
The helicopter is available for:
• Accident and medical emergencies
• Inter-hospital transfers
• Search & Rescue - Land and Water
• Law Enforcement Support
With a fully-equipped rescue helicopter bringing paramedic and/or medical staff in response to motor vehicle, farm, recreational and aviation accidents, as well as incidents of a medical nature, the community rescue helicopter provides rapid transport of critically ill or injured patients.
A significant number of trauma patients die from treatable causes within one and two hours of injury. The earlier that resuscitation can begin offers the best chance of survival. During flight to an appropriate medical facility patients continue to receive treatment.
The Taupo rescue helicopter service employs pilots with additional crew members made available on a contract basis from St John Ambulance and the New Zealand Police.
All medical and paramedic crew are specifically trained to carry out their duties in and around the helicopter and, in most instances, will be familiar with procedures to use both the long-line and the winch.
To respond to emergencies in a pre-hospital environment, the rescue helicopter service utilises paramedics from St John Ambulance.
Such missions engage the expertise of officers from the Police SAR team. They often operate both the long-line and winch and during search missions are experienced observers. The Taupo base is fortunate to have a very experienced search and rescue crew to call upon.
A limited number of transfers are made in the Taupo rescue helicopter. Urgent maternity patient transfers are crewed by midwives and paramedics.
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