The Aerocool Rescue Helicopter continued to provide rapid critical care across the Bay of Plenty throughout October, completing 51 life-saving missions throughout the month.

Throughout October, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter attended to two medical emergencies, six motor vehicle accidents and six miscellaneous missions. Rural missions accounted for eight of the total missions flown over October, doubling from the four carried out in September, reflecting the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter’s ongoing role in reaching patients in remote and hard-to-access areas. Urgent inter-hospital transfers made up 55% of all flights carried out by your Aerocool Rescue Helicopter crew, transporting 29 patients to receive the medical care they needed.

The first of the month saw the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter in Port Charles assisting a female who had sustained injuries following a fall. The Aerocool Rescue Helicopter crew treated the woman on scene before airlifting her to Tauranga Hospital for further treatment.

On the morning of Sunday October 5th, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Matatā for a male who was in serious condition following a motor vehicle accident. He was stabilised at the scene and flown to Tauranga Hospital for further treatment. That evening, the rescue helicopter flew to Whitianga for a patient who was suffering from a medical event. The patient was treated on scene before being airlifted to Tauranga Hospital for further medical care.

On the evening of Tuesday, October 7th, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Whakatāne Hospital for a female who was in serious condition. The Aerocool Rescue Helicopter crew transported the patient to Tauranga Hospital to receive further treatment.

The following evening, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Tauranga Hospital for a female who was experiencing a serious medical event. The patient was airlifted to Auckland City Hospital to receive further advanced medical care.

On October 17th, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Putāruru for a male who had sustained serious injuries following a motor vehicle accident. He was airlifted to Waikato Hospital to receive further treatment. That evening, the rescue helicopter flew to Cape Runaway for a male who was in serious condition. He was treated on scene and flown to Tauranga Hospital to receive further medical care.

On October 19th, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Matakana Island for a female who had sustained serious injuries following a fall. She was stabilised at the scene and flown to Middlemore Hospital to receive further treatment.

On Friday, October 24th, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Waihau Bay for a female who had sustained injuries following a motor vehicle accident. The patient was treated on scene and flown to Tauranga Hospital for further treatment.

The afternoon of October 26th saw the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter assisting a female at Ōhope Beach who had sustained injuries following a fall while walking. The onboard rescue crew winched the patient from her location on the remote walking track and airlifted her to Tauranga Hospital where she could receive further medical care.

The following day, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Whangamatā for a male who was in critical condition. He was treated on scene and flown to Tauranga Hospital to receive further treatment.

The month of October ended with four missions being carried out by the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter. In the early hours of October 31st, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Whakatāne Hospital for a female suffering from a medical condition. The patient was transported to Auckland City Hospital to receive further care. That afternoon, the rescue helicopter transported a patient suffering from a medical event from Tauranga Hospital to Middlemore Hospital, where he could receive further treatment. The Aerocool Rescue Helicopter then transported a patient in serious condition from Tokoroa Hospital to Waikato Hospital. The day ended with the rescue helicopter assisting a male in critical condition following a motor vehicle accident at Tanners Point. He was airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.

These missions highlight the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter’s vital role in ensuring patients in the Bay of Plenty and surrounds receive timely medical care. Whether transferring critically ill patients between hospitals, responding to emergencies in rural communities, or providing urgent medical support, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter remains rescue-ready when every second counts.

Flying at night makes every rescue harder and riskier. It requires specialised equipment - like the vital Night Vision Goggles. However, the Night Vision Goggles your crew currently uses are nearly 20 years old. Not only has the technology improved, but ageing equipment like this is increasingly difficult to repair. If even one pair of NVGs fail, your crew’s ability to fly at night will be seriously jeopardised...

This Christmas, your rescue helicopter crew is asking for your help to upgrade this vital equipment - so they can return home safely and bring others safely home to theirs. Donate today to give the gift of sight this Christmas - https://give.rescue.org.nz/event/aerocool-rescue-helicopter/donate

Background:

Philips Search & Rescue Trust (PSRT) is the charity responsible for fundraising and promotion of the North Island’s largest pool of community rescue helicopters.

PSRT was founded in 1985 after an endowment by Philips New Zealand Limited to mark a light aircraft accident near Turangi in which two Philips personnel lost their lives.

Encompassing a fleet of rescue helicopters, the service provides air health and rescue services free of charge to the public on a no-fault basis. The rapid response is powered by an expert crew of Pilots, Air Crew Officers and Critical Care Flight Paramedics.

In a life and death situation it is this speed and agility of the rescue helicopter that can make all the difference, with patients able to receive medical treatment as soon as the rescue helicopter arrives and continuing whilst en route to a medical facility.

Philips Search & Rescue Trust fundraise for and support:

Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Waikato, King Country, Coromandel 

Aerocool Rescue Helicopter, Bay of Plenty Coastal Region

Greenlea Rescue Helicopter, Central Plateau and Lake’s Region

Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter, Manawatu, Whanganui

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