Missions

Over eighty percent of these missions provide urgent medical assistance at accident scenes and inter-hospital transfers for the critically ill.

The Rescue Helicopter is also tasked by the Police and Rescue Coordination Centre NZ (RCCNZ) for search and rescue operations; and used locally for education; training and demonstrations.

The types of missions vary every time. The rescue helicopter team needs to be ready for any situation. Examples of mission types:

Coverage Area

The Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter Service coverage area is from the Takapau Plains and Porangahau in the South to Waikaremoana and Mahia Peninsula in the North.

To enlarge coverage area simply click on image below.

Services Provided

• Transport of critically ill and injured
• Inter hospital transfers for intensive care, delivery suite and coronary care unit
• Search & Rescue for land and sea
• Police support

Standard Operating Procedures (S.O.P.)

• Weather
• Specialist crew requirements
• Helicopter performance
• Safety Equipment
• Medical and Rescue Equipment

Patient Care

Before each mission, the following key considerations are:

• Crew requirements i.e. do we require specialist crewmembers to complete the task?
• Number of patients and their injuries
• Medical equipment required - specialised or standard, i.e. incubators, ventilators etc
• Patient management i.e. is flying at altitude a restricting factor?

During each mission, the following key considerations are:

• Which is the best / most appropriate hospital to take the patient to?
• Communication with receiving hospital advising patient condition and etc

Post Mission

• Cleanup & re-supplying any equipment in preparation for the next mission
• Servicing of rescue equipment i.e. sea rescues require the helicopter and rescue equipment to have a complete fresh water flush down and application of corrosion inhibitor where required
• Refuel
• Paperwork i.e. updating our mission database and flight and equipment maintenance logs
• Standby ready for the next mission!

Standby Time

• Maintenance of rescue and operational equipment is essential
• Ongoing training i.e. winch, Night Sun, Night Vision Goggles, FLIR, over water, night landings and medical
• Equipment familiarisation (there is always new equipment to evaluate and trial)
• Rescue technique evaluation (is what we are doing the best possible way to do it? Are here any risk factors that can be further minimised?)