The Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter carried out 35 missions across the Manawatū and Whanganui regions throughout January.

These missions included seven inter-hospital transfers, two medical events, 14 rural/farm incidents, six motor vehicle accidents, and six miscellaneous missions.

The Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter was most often seen in the likes of Palmerston North with four inter-hospital transfers and Hawera with two inter-hospital transfers. In addition, the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter crew were required in many other remote and challenging locations to provide life-saving care in time critical situations.

The month started with the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter being dispatched to Levin for a male who was in critical condition following a motor vehicle accident. He was treated on scene by the onboard Critical Care Flight Paramedic before being airlifted to Wellington Hospital to receive further care.

On Friday morning, January 2nd, the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Turakina for a male who had sustained serious injuries following a motor vehicle accident. His injuries were treated on scene before he was flown to Palmerston North Hospital for further advanced treatment.

Later that morning, the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Hawera Hospital for a male who was experiencing a cardiac event. He was flown to Waikato Hospital to receive further care.

That afternoon, the rescue helicopter flew to Turitea after being tasked to assist a female who was in critical condition following a car vs pedestrian incident. The patient was treated on scene before being airlifted to Wellington Hospital to receive further care.

On Saturday afternoon, January 3rd, the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Arapuke Forest Park for a male who had fallen while mountain bike riding and sustained fracture injuries. He was treated on scene and airlifted to Palmerston North Hospital to receive advanced care.

In the early hours of Monday morning, January 5th, the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Palmerston North Hospital for a male suffering from a medical event. He was airlifted to Wellington Hospital to receive further treatment. The Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter crew used their Night Vision Googles to fly safely at night.

On Tuesday, January 6th, the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter flew to Tararura Forest Park after being tasked to assist a male experiencing a medical event. The Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter crew located the patient, and he was assessed/stabilised by the onboard Critical Care Flight Paramedic before being airlifted to Palmerston North Hospital for further treatment.

On Wednesday afternoon, January 14th, the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Rangiwahia for a female who was in critical condition following an animal related incident. She was stabilised on scene and airlifted to Palmerston North Hospital for further treatment.

On Friday morning, January 16th, the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Kereru for a male who had sustained serious injuries following a motor vehicle accident. He was stabilised on scene by the onboard Critical Care Flight Paramedic before being airlifted to Hastings Hospital for further treatment.

On Wednesday afternoon, January 28th, the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Tararua Ranges for a female who had sustained fracture injuries following a fall. She was airlifted to Palmerston North Hospital to receive further treatment.

On Thursday evening, January 29th, the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Waiouru for a female who had sustained injuries following a motor vehicle accident. She was treated on scene and airlifted to Whanganui Hospital to receive ongoing care.

On Friday morning, January 30th, the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to the Tararua Ranges to assist a woman suffering from a medical event. The rescue helicopter crew located her, and the Critical Care Flight Paramedic was winched down to access the patient and relay what was needed. The paramedic advised that she would need to be winched out along with her equipment, so the Pilot and Air Crew Officer prepared for a winch operation, landing at a nearby farm to remove the stretcher and create additional space and weight capacity. The patient, her gear, and the paramedic were then winched into the helicopter, and she was transported to Palmerston North Hospital for further care.

The month ended with the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter being dispatched to Taihape Airfield after being tasked to assist a male who had sustained serious injuries following a pedestrian vs car incident. He was stabilised on scene and flown to Whanganui Hospital for further treatment.

Later that afternoon, the rescue helicopter was tasked to Foxton Beach to assist a patient in serious condition. The patient was treated on scene and flown to Palmerston North Hospital to receive further treatment.

Donate to your Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter today or become a Heli Hero by donating monthly. Because you never know when you’ll need the rescue helicopter > https://give.rescue.org.nz/event/grassroots-trust-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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