The Greenlea Rescue Helicopter continued to provide rapid critical care across the Central Plateau and Lakes region throughout October, completing 36 life-saving missions throughout the month.

Throughout October, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter attended to four medical emergencies, four motor vehicle accidents and six miscellaneous missions. Rural missions accounted for five of the total missions flown over October, reflecting the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter’s ongoing role in reaching patients in remote and hard-to-access areas. Your Greenlea Rescue Helicopter carried out 17 inter-hospital transfers, transporting 17 patients to allow them to receive the medical care they needed.

On the evening of Wednesday October 8th, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Whakatāne Hospital for a female who was in serious condition. She was transported to Waikato Hospital to receive further medical care.

On the morning of Saturday, October 4th, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to a motor vehicle accident in Ōwhango. The patient, a male in serious condition, was treated on scene by the onboard rescue crew and airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.

On October 9th, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Waimiha for a male who was experiencing a serious anaphylactic reaction. The patient was treated on scene and flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.

The morning of Monday, October 13th saw the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter attending to a patient at Taupō Airport who had sustained serious injuries following an incident involving a car and a pedestrian. The patient was treated and transported to Waikato Hospital for further medical care.

On the evening of Wednesday, October 15th, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Taupō Airport for a male patient who had sustained serious injuries. He was treated and flown to Waikato Hospital to receive further treatment. The rescue helicopter was then dispatched to Piarere for a male who was in serious condition. He was flown to Waikato Hospital to receive further treatment.

On Thursday, October 16th, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Ngakuru for a male who had sustained injuries following a motor vehicle accident. The patient was treated on scene and flown to Waikato Hospital for further medical care. That afternoon the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Taharua for a male who had sustained injuries following a quad bike-related incident. He was provided treatment on scene and en route to Waikato Hospital where he could receive further medical care.

In the afternoon of Sunday, October 19th, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter crew assisted a patient in Waikite Valley who required urgent medical care. The patient was airlifted to Waikato Hospital.

On Wednesday, October 29th, the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Nukuhau for a male in serious condition. He was transported to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. That evening, the rescue helicopter was dispatched to Rotorua Hospital for a female suffering from chest pain. She was transported to Waikato Hospital for further medical care.

These missions highlight the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter’s vital role in ensuring patients in the Central Plateau and Lakes region 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 Greenlea 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/greenlea-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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