07-07-2025
This World Paramedic Day, Celebrate Our Critical Care Flight Paramedics
With International Paramedics Day today, July 8th, we want to take this opportunity to celebrate the incredible individuals who dedicate their lives to saving others - including the amazing Critical Care Flight Paramedics (CCFP's) onboard your rescue helicopters. These highly skilled professionals help ensure life-saving care is delivered to those who need it most, anywhere and anytime.
Critical Care Flight Paramedics make up one-third of the crew onboard your rescue helicopters. Years of specialised training allow them to perform advanced medical intervention and life-saving procedures within a rescue helicopter environment. Critical Care Flight Paramedics even have the knowledge and expertise to put a patient in a medically induced coma at the scene of the emergency if required.
Onboard a rescue helicopter, CCFPs work directly alongside the Pilot and the Air Crew Officer.
This year, International Paramedics Day highlights the vital teamwork between paramedics and the communities they serve. And what better way to mark the occasion than by hearing from Critical Care Flight Paramedic Rob.
Rob mentions that in New Zealand, where the rural industry is significant, crush injuries are unfortunately a common type of incident. Rob shared with us some important things to remember in crush injuries that could save someone's life.
For example, Rob was the on-duty Critical Care Flight Paramedic when the rescue helicopter was dispatched to a mission in rural Mangakino to assist an injured farmer named Peter.
Peter had been involved in an accident while feeding out silage that morning. He lay with his pelvis completely crushed underneath his tractor for several hours in the freezing cold until he was found by his partner Judith.
Rob says that in emergencies like this, the very FIRST thing you should do is dial 111.
'I could see the tractor on it's side, and my heart just dropped into my shoes. I went and checked Peter out … and then I had to do the worst thing. I had to drive back up the hill to get reception and dial 111'. - Judith
Shortly after, a nearby farmer came by with his tractor to lift the weight.
We asked CCFP Rob, how do you know when you should and should not lift a heavy weight that is crushing a patient?
YES – ' Immediately lift the weight if there is a risk of blockage to the patient's airway or the weight is crushing their chest, limiting their breathing.'
NO – 'DO NOT lift the weight if it is crushing another part of their body for an extended period of time, longer than an hour. Moving this can release toxins into the bloodstream and cause cardiac arrest. In Peter's case, specialist medications were required before the tractor was lifted off his pelvis.'
Within minutes, the rescue helicopter arrived and Rob instantly started assessing Peter.
'I touched Peter, and he was absolutely cold, freezing cold. I remember the cold wind blowing on us.'
If you find yourself in an emergency like this, keeping the patient warm could mean the difference between life and death.
'When a patient is bleeding from trauma, it is important to keep them warm. Hypothermia impairs the body's ability to stop bleeding, so colder patients have worse outcomes. Use blankets or clothing, dry them if they are wet, and keep them out of the wind.'
A tarp was used to construct a wind barrier around Peter. While this was being set up, Rob used a fluid warmer to warm Peter up from the inside and wrapped him in a chemical warming blanket.
'The fluid warmer absolutely saved Peter. I ran the IV fluids through that to bring Peter back up to a normal temperature. It made a huge difference to Peter's rescue.'
Continuing on in the middle of this remote Mangakino farm, Rob was able to stabilise Peter enough to be transported in the rescue helicopter.
With accidents like this, it can often be one split-second decision that means the difference between life and death for patients. With the support of their communities, specialised Critical Care Flight Paramedics like Rob make that life-saving difference every day.
This World Paramedics' Day, we're grateful to have Critical Care Flight Paramedics there for those who need them most.
The fast response of the rescue helicopter and its highly trained crew ensures the patients receive the best care as quickly as possible. Donate to your local rescue helicopter today to keep missions like these possible -
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.
