Latest news with #TaurangaHospital
Scoop
26-06-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Aerocool Rescue Helicopter Completes 58 Life-saving Missions In May
The Aerocool Rescue Helicopter carried out 58 life-saving missions across the Coastal Bay of Plenty region throughout May. These missions included 26 inter-hospital transfers, three medical events, 10 rural/farm incidents, four motor vehicle accident, and 15 miscellaneous missions. The Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was frequently seen in remote locations such as Motiti Island, Matakana Island, Waiheke Island and Waihau Bay, to name a few. The month began with the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter being dispatched to Pongakawa for a male who sustained serious injuries following a significant fall (5 metres). The patient was stabilised on scene for approximately 20 minutes before being airlifted to Tauranga Hospital for further treatment. In the early hours of Saturday morning, April 3, the Aeorcool Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Wharepapa South to assist a male who was in serious condition. He was stabilised on scene for approximately 20 minutes before being airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. Later that day, the crew responded to three additional medical emergencies. One involved a male who had sustained injuries from a significant fall of approximately five metres. He was airlifted from Whakatane Hospital to Tauranga Hospital for further care. On May 10, the rescue helicopter was tasked to Omanawa to assist a woman in critical condition following a motor vehicle accident. She was stabilised on scene for approximately 40 minutes before being airlifted to Waikato Hospital. Two more missions were carried out that same day. One of them involved a male patient on Waiheke Island who had sustained injuries during a rugby-related incident. The patient was airlifted to Middlemore Hospital for further treatment. On May 11, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Waihau Bay for a male who had sustained serious injuries following a fall. He was stabilised and then transported to Whakatane Hospital for further treatment. On May 13, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Rotorua Hospital for a male who was suffering from a medical event. The patient was transported to Auckland City Hospital for further treatment. On May 15, the rescue helicopter flew to Matakana Island for a female who was experiencing a medical condition. The patient was flown to Tauranga Hospital for further treatment. On Monday evening, May 19th, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Kawerau for a male who was in critical condition. The patient was flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. On Tuesday afternoon, May 20th, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter flew to Rotoma for a patient who was in serious condition. The patient was airlifted to Tauranga Hospital to receive further care. On Wednesday morning, May 21st, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Tauranga Hospital for a male who was experiencing a medical event and required a hospital transfer. The patient was airlifted to Auckland City Hospital for further treatment. On Friday afternoon, May 23rd, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Whakatane Hospital for a male who was experiencing a medical event. The patient was airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. On May 24, three critical missions were carried out. The first involved a woman suffering from a medical event who required urgent transport from Whakatāne Hospital to Tauranga Hospital. That afternoon, the rescue helicopter was dispatched to Te Ranga for a man who had sustained injuries in a motor vehicle accident. He was stabilised on scene and airlifted to Tauranga Hospital for further treatment. Later that evening, theAerocool Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Te Araroa to assist a woman in critical condition. She was airlifted to Tauranga Hospital for further care. On May 30, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter completed three missions. One involved a female who had sustained trauma injuries following a motor vehicle accident. The patient was stabilised on scene at Port Waikato for approximately an hour before being airlifted to Auckland City Hospital for further treatment. The month concluded with the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter being dispatched to Te Kaha for a female who was suffering from a medical event. The patient was treated on scene for 30 minutes before being airlifted to Whakatane Hospital for further treatment. What if... you could save a life?
Otago Daily Times
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Coroner takes aim at Runit after fatal league head injury
A Coroner has taken aim at Runit competitions saying they should not be recognised as an official sport. Coroner Bruce Hesketh slated the competition as having "all the hallmarks of perilous activity that makes no attempt to mitigate head injury". He made the comments in a finding into the death of 32-year-old Pāpāmoa man Tere Livingstone, who died from a severe head injury sustained in a tackle during a game of rugby league in June 2023. Livingstone suffered a concussion in an earlier, pre-season game on May 27 which he didn't tell anyone in the team about. However, two days after he was hit in the jaw by an opposing player's forearm, he began suffering a severe headache in the back of his head, and nausea. The young dad went to his GP who advised him not to play contact sport for three to four weeks and that he should discuss the situation with his team's physiotherapist. She also advised him to return immediately if his symptoms, which by the time of the appointment had largely reduced, returned and she would refer him for a CT scan. Livingstone played down the doctor's concern with his partner however he did not play league the next weekend due to being out of town for a family event. Coroner Hesketh said Livingstone did not appreciate the seriousness of his condition because on June 6 he wanted to go to training but his partner convinced him to stay home and rest. The following weekend, on June 10, Livingstone played another game in a pre-season tournament in Tauranga. In the first half he was tackled, landing on his back and his head hit the ground in a whiplash movement. He went off the field and knelt down on one knee, saying he was fine but within seconds he fell forward and suffered a seizure. An off-duty nurse came to his aid and an ambulance was called. Livingstone was transferred to Tauranga Hospital where he was diagnosed with swelling and a brain bleed. He was flown from there to Waikato Hospital in Hamilton for nuerosurgery but his condition deteriorated and after five days he was declared brain dead. His life support was switched off after organ donation. Coroner Hesketh said although the family objected to a post-mortem, he was satisfied after receiving expert advice, that Livingstone developed a rare condition known as second impact syndrome (SIS), when a person suffered a second head injury before fully recovering from a previous one. "The athlete will rapidly develop altered mental status and a loss of consciousness within seconds to minutes of the second hit, resulting in catastrophic neurological injury," the Coroner wrote. "SIS is described as acute brain swelling and bleeding that occurs when a second concussion is sustained before the first one has healed properly. This can be difficult to treat and can be fatal." In 2021 there had only been 45 cases of SIS recorded - all boys and men between the ages of 10 and 29 with the period between the first and second concussions ranging from one hour to five weeks. Eleven of the injured recovered and 19 died. Coroner Hesketh said if Livingstone had told his coach, team manager or referee about the first head injury, he would have been stood down for the mandatory 21 days required in sports. "Had that occurred and had he followed the graduated recovery and return stages set out on the NZRL (New Zealand Rugby League) website I am satisfied from the literature I have read and the advice I have received, he would not have experienced second impact syndrome." He said Livingstone's death was preventable. No management of head injuries in Runit Coroner Hesketh was critical of Runit competitions, saying they should not be recognised as an official sport. "As a matter of public interest I record my concern about a developing contact competition in New Zealand called 'Runit'. "There appears to be no governing body, the activity is not regulated, and has no written publicly accessible rules of participation. "Neither is there any information to players around the signs and dangers of concussion or concussion management." He noted the competition was said to be built around the actions seen in rugby union, league, the NFL (American National Football League) and the AFL (Australian Football League). "However, those sports have invested heavily in concussion prevention, identity, and management. The same cannot be said for this latest trending competition. "The principle of operation in Runit requires two opposing individuals, one being the ball carrier and the other the tackler. "The two stand at opposite ends of a 20m by 4m field and run full speed at each other and colliding to try and knock each other over." Hesketh said "understandably", medical specialists and organisations assisting those in hospital or in the community recovering from head trauma had expressed concern about the dangers these competitions gave rise to traumatic brain injury and/or chronic traumatic encephalopathy - a brain disorder caused by repeated head injuries. "Runit competitions are attempting to set up in New Zealand as a legitimate sport." However, he said in the sports Runit copied, the object was to avoid being tackled, or to be tackled in a way that the player carrying the ball could protect themselves by side-stepping or turning into the tackler to lessen the blow. There were also strict rules around high tackles. "Furthermore, all the applicable team sporting bodies involved have invested heavily in concussion awareness, prevention, identity, and management." He recommended athletes take head injuries seriously. "This unfortunate and sad case emphasises the need for those who play approved team contact sports to adhere to the concussion guidelines. "Both the NZRL and NZRU websites have significant information around concussion prevention, identification, and management. Significantly more can be found on the ACC website." Symptoms of concussion included: Loss of consciousness or delayed responsiveness Double or blurred vision Neck pain Nausea and vomiting Balance problems or dizziness Sensitivity to noise Concentration or memory problems Seizure or convulsion Unusual behaviour changes
NZ Herald
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Herald
US tourist breaks her back in head-on Bay of Plenty campervan crash
Hato Hone St John said they were notified of a motor vehicle accident in Omanawa at 11.07am and responded with three ambulances, one manager, one rapid response unit, and one helicopter. 'Our crews assessed and treated three patients, one in a critical condition and one in a moderate condition, who were airlifted to Waikato Hospital, and one in a serious condition who was transported by road to Tauranga Hospital.' According to a post by Phillippi's travel partner, she was set to go to Australia, Bali and Japan, but would remain in New Zealand 'a bit longer than expected' following the crash. In an Instagram post last week, Phillippi said: 'I was involved in a head-on collision a few days ago. I had to be airlifted to the hospital, where I discovered I have broken my back, nose, and my legs experienced some trauma. 'I'm so thankful to still be here, and I'm thankful for all the people who have checked in on me.' She said her parents 'dropped everything to be by my side. They have been so strong for me, and I love them so much. Just feeling overwhelmed with gratitude at the moment. 'Life moves fast. A day, a minute, a singular second – that's how long it takes for the life you've held so perfect and praised to bring about such a crazy and drastic change. 'Things happen that remind you how little control you actually do have.' Phillippi said the experience was humbling, 'having ... my mom feed me at 20 years old is quite a humbling experience. Wasn't how I thought I would spend my last months being 20.' She was grateful the situation wasn't worse and had turned to her faith to deal with the aftermath of the incident. 'It's easy in these situations to ask God why, but I have found myself only asking why it wasn't worse. He has shown up in this big mess. He was there when my side didn't have an airbag and my face was barely saved from being shattered. 'He was there when the witnesses just happened to be rescue divers and knew exactly what to do to keep me awake till the heli got there.' Recovery efforts begin – 'bedridden and in a body brace' It is unclear how long her recovery will take or how long she will need to remain in New Zealand. A GoFundMe was set up on behalf of the Phillippi family, where funds will go towards 'medical expenses and the significant cost of medical transport to bring her home when she's stable enough to travel'. Phillippi wrote on social media that surgeons 'want to do everything possible to keep me from surgery since I'm so young'. 'So I will be bedridden and in a body brace for a couple weeks until I can stand, and if the bones stay in place then they won't go through with surgery.' She said she hoped her bones would heal on their own without intervention. The rental vehicle company, Travellers Autobarn, and the Phillippi family have been approached for comment.
Scoop
19-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
The Aerocool Rescue Helicopter Undertakes 36 Life-saving Missions In April
Press Release – Aerocool Rescue Helicopter The month began with the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter being dispatched to Tokoroa for a male in serious condition. The patient was stabilised on scene for 30 minutes before being flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. The Aerocool Rescue Helicopter carried out 36 life-saving missions across the Coastal Bay of Plenty region throughout April. These missions included 13 inter-hospital transfers, 3 medical events, 11 rural/farm incidents, 2 motor vehicle accident, and 7 miscellaneous missions. The rescue helicopter was most often seen in Tauranga, completing 4 inter-hospital transfers, as well as in Whakatane and Rotorua, where each had 3 inter-hospital transfers. Additionally, the rescue helicopter crew were spotted in remote locations such as Motiti Island, Matakana Island, Hahei and Waihau Bay, to name a few. The month began with the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter being dispatched to Tokoroa for a male in serious condition. The patient was stabilised on scene for 30 minutes before being flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. In the early hours of the next morning, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Rotorua Hospital to assist a male suffering from a medical event. The patient was flown to Middlemore Hospital for further medical care. On Saturday morning, April 5th, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Whakatane Hospital for a female experiencing a medical condition. The patient was airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. That evening, the rescue helicopter crew were being dispatched to Tauranga Hospital for a male experiencing a serious medical event and required further treatment at another hospital. The patient was flown swiftly to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. On the morning of Tuesday, April 8th, the rescue helicopter flew to Matakana Island after being dispatched to assist a female suffering from a serious medical condition. The patient was treated on scene and airlifted to Tauranga Hospital for further treatment. That evening, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter flew to Waihau Bay after being dispatched to assist a female who was in serious condition. The patient was treated on scene for approximately 20 minutes before being airlifted to Whakatane Hospital for further treatment. On Wednesday morning, April 9th, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Motiti Island for a female experiencing a serious medical event. She was stabilised on scene by the Critical Care Flight Paramedic before being flown to Tauranga Hospital for further treatment. On Thursday morning, April 10th, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Waihi for a patient who was experiencing a serious event. The patient was flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. On the evening of Friday, April 11th, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter flew to Galatea after being dispatched to assist a female who had sustained serious injuries following a significant fall. She was stabilized on scene for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes before being swiftly flown to Waikato Hospital for further life-saving care. On Sunday afternoon, April 13th, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter flew to Te Puke after being dispatched to assist a female experiencing a serious medical event. The patient was stabilised on scene for approximately 30 minutes before being airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. That afternoon, the rescue helicopter was tasked to Ruatoki for a male who sustained injuries after a motor vehicle accident. The patient was treated on scene for approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes before being airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. On Tuesday afternoon, April 22nd, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Opotiki Airfield for a female who was experiencing a serious medical event. The patient was airlifted to Tauranga Hospital for further treatment. On Thursday evening, April 24th, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was dispatched to Taupo Hospital for a female who was suffering from a medical event. The patient was airlifted to Waikato Hospital to receive further treatment. The next evening, the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was tasked to Rotorua Hospital for a male who sustained significant injuries following a motor vehicle accident. The patient was airlifted to Tauranga Hospital for further treatment. The month concluded with the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter being dispatched to Katikati for a female experiencing a serious medical event. She was stabilised and swiftly airlifted to Tauranga Hospital to receive further medical treatment. The fast response of the rescue helicopter and its highly trained crew ensures the patients receive the best care as quickly as possible. Because you never know when you'll need us… Donate to your Aerocool Rescue Helicopter at rescue-helicopter/donate
