Busy Start To Westpac Helicopter Week

Busy Start To Westpac Helicopter Week

The Wellington based Westpac Rescue Helicopter has had a busy start to Westpac Helicopter Awareness Month (WHAM), which began today.

Just after 10 am this morning the helicopter was called to Paraparaumu to transport an infant who was having difficulty breathing. Wellington Free Ambulance and the Kapiti Emergency Medical Services (EMS) team had both responded to the home of the infant.

The ambulance transported the four month old baby and her mother to Paraparaumu Domain to meet the helicopter. The doctor and paramedics stabilised the baby prior to transport. Two Wellington Free Ambulance paramedics and Dr. Chris Lane from the EMS team all escorted the baby to hospital.

The baby was in a very serious condition when we arrived at Wellington Hospital Emergency Department at 11:05am. She has since been admitted to the Wellington Intensive Care Unit where is now described to be in a stable condition (as at 7:20pm).

Just after 4 pm this afternoon the Westpac Rescue Helicopter was asked to respond to Annedale, in the Wairarapa, where a 31 year old woman had fallen off a roof. The helicopter, with a Wellington Free Ambulance paramedic on board, arrived at the scene shortly after a Wairarapa Ambulance Service team.

The paramedics stabilised the woman before she was put into the helicopter for the trip to Wellington Hospital Emergency Department. The woman's husband, and their seven month old baby also came in the helicopter. The helicopter arrived at Wellington Hospital at 6 pm, and the woman is expected to be admitted to hospital after being treated and assessed in the emergency department.

"In both cases today the size of our BK117 helicopter meant we were able to keep the families together" says Westpac Rescue Helicopter crewman Dave Greenberg. "This morning it was essential to keep the mum with her sick baby, and even though we had four of us in the back treating the baby, there was still room for mum. And then this afternoon it was equally important to transport the husband and the baby in a car seat, along with the injured mother."

For more information on either rescue please contact Dave Greenberg (contact details below).

Westpac Helicopter Awareness Month

May has been designated Westpac Helicopter Awareness Month.

During the month all four Westpac Rescue Helicopters around the country (Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch) will be holding events where the public can come and visit their local Westpac helicopter.

The Life Flight open day, where people can visit both the Wellington based Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Life Flight NZ fixed wing air ambulance will be held on Sunday, May 15th, from 10am to 4pm.

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