New Waikato Show Supports Westpac Air Ambulance

April 16 2012

New Waikato Show Supports Westpac Air Ambulance

A major fund-raising drive to replace the Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance Bell222B aircraft with a modern, multi-role $3.5 million helicopter to serve the region will be a feature of the Waikato Show this month.

The Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance helicopter is 25 years old and has served the Waikato community for 15 years, transporting over 9,000 patients since 1997.

For three days this month the public will have an opportunity to meet some of the crew and learn more about their life-saving activities. Visitors to the Show can help the cause with a gold coin donation remote control helicopter trials and flight simulator provided by the Hobby Hangar.

Chief Pilot Grant Bremner of the Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance, said the Air Ambulance had operated since 1987 and covers the Waikato and King Country regions and sometimes areas well beyond.

“It offers transport to enable medical and rescue crew to rapidly get to incidents, and provide priority transport, allowing patients to receive medical treatment whilst en-route to a medical facility.

The sooner that resuscitation and treatment begins, the better chance of survival and recovery.

“Its main work involves getting St John Advanced Paramedics, Waikato Hospital flight doctors and nurses as well as rescue personnel to critically ill or badly injured people anywhere in the region and transporting these patients to the major hospitals in Hamilton and Auckland for the best possible care. The helicopter is called on to get paramedics and response crew to remote locations, such as forest, mountains or farming and bush areas, where people have been badly injured.”

He said helicopter and specialist crew also played major roles in search and rescue work on land and sea as well as providing a lifeline to those who are lost or isolated in precarious situations.

Other charities being supported by Waikato Show events are the Lions Cancer Lodge, Plunket and the Waikato Breast Cancer Society.

www.rescue.org.nz

A full programme of events and show schedules can be found on the Waikato Show website www.waikatoshow.co.nz

Venue - The new Claudelands Event Centre, Brooklyn Rd, Hamilton

When:
Friday 27 April ~ 10:00pm to 8:00pm
Saturday 28 April ~ 10:00am to 8:00pm
Sunday 29 April ~ 10:00am to 4:00pm

Admission Adults $5 Children under 5 free, parking free

www.waikatoshow.co.nz

ENDS

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