Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service
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- For the New Zealand rescue helicopter see Westpac Rescue Helicopter (New Zealand)
The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service was founded in 1973 by Surf Life Saving Australia. Since their beginning they have saved over 34,000 lives.
The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service is the largest non-profit search, rescue and Aeromedical service in Australia.
Its aircraft and trained medical and operational crews respond quickly and effectively to emergencies threatening the life, health and safety of people caused through medical emergency, illness, natural disaster, accidents or mishap.
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[edit] Operational Areas
The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service operates in fives states in Australia. These states are:
[edit] New South Wales
The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service has four operation bases and a total of nine rescue aircraft in New South Wales.
- Sydney at Kingsford Smith International Airport (Life Saver 1 and Life Saver 3).
- Lismore (Life Saver 2 and Life Saver 4).
- Newcastle (Westpac 1 and Westpac 2).
- Tamworth (Westpac 3).
[edit] Queensland
The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter patrols the south east queensland coast, performing beach patrols, shark sightings and warnings and provides assistance to Surf Lifesavers in the water and on the beach. Westpac also sponsors three Jet Rescue Boats (JRB) in Queensland.
[edit] Victoria
The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter is on standby 24hours a day 365 days a year for search and rescue in Victoria. The helicopter also assists beach patrols during the patrol season. In 2006 Westpac Life Saver bought one of the Life Flight helicopters and branded it with the Life Saver signage.
[edit] Tasmania
The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service in Tasmania plays a vital part of the emrgency services for the people living in Tasmania. The helicopter plays a similar role to the helicopters in New South Wales and has a contract with the Ambulance Service of Tasmania.
[edit] South Australia
The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter in South Australia patrols beaches on weekends, public holidays and busy weekdays over summer from November through to March each year. It joins the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Plane in SA as part of Surf Life Savings Support Services.
[edit] Role
The Life Saver Helicopters respond to medical emergencies throughout most of Australia, covering thousands of square kilometres of mountain ranges, bushland, the coastlines of NSW, QLD, Vic, SA and Tasmania, as well as some of the country's busiest highways.
- Primary Missions
A Helicopter is tasked to an industrial, recreational, motor vehicle accident or natural disaster to deliver their medical expertise and provide life saving support. (e.g. Life Saver 1 is tasked to a three person MVA on the Hume Highway.)
- Secondary Missions
A Helicopter is tasked to transport a patient from a country hospital to a metropolitan hospital for specialist care. (e.g. Life Saver 3 is tasked to transport an elderly patient requiring heart surgery from Bathurst Hospital to Royal North Shore Hospital.)
- Search and Rescue Missions
A Helicopter is tasked to locate a distress beacon activated from a downed aircraft or vessel out at sea. (e.g. Life Saver 1 is tasked locate to a distress signal from a boat in Botany Bay.)
- Recovery Missions
A Helicopter is tasked to rescue an individual in a life threatening situation. (e.g. Life Saver 1 is tasked retrieve a bushwalker who has fallen down a cliff in the Blue Mountains.)
[edit] Crew
[edit] Pilot
The Service's pilots are highly trained having flown thousands of hours in twin engined aircraft.
[edit] Rescue Crewman
Are responsible for operating the hoist and the sling, be competent in Search and Rescue, roping, abseiling, mountaineering, SCUBA diving, water rescue and bush survival techniques. Are also able to provide continual patient care through Basic Life Support (BLS).
[edit] Air Crewman
Responsible for the co-ordination of missions. Takes control of all communications with Hospitals, Ambulance Officers and other emergency services!!!
[edit] SCAT Paramedic
Possess elite skills in Advance Life Support (ALS) and trauma management, have skills in Special Casualty Access Team (SCAT)and rescue techniques. They provide patient care and are responsible for preparing the aero medical evacuation missions, coordinating with the AirCrewman and other medical personnel, and liasing with retrieval services.
[edit] Doctor
Are specially qualified in Pre-Hospital Emergency Care and are able to provide advance life support care to a patient.
[edit] Rescue AirCrewman
Provides the combined support of a Rescue Crewman and AirCrewman.
[edit] Aircraft
[edit] Lifesaver 1 and Lifesaver 3
Both helicopters are the Kawasaki BK 117.
[edit] Westpac 1
Westpac 1 is a Bell 412.
[edit] Westpac 2 and Westpac 3
Both these helicopters are Bell 407s.
[edit] Lifesaver 2 and Lifesaver 4
These helicopters are Eurocopter Dauphins.
Please Note: The above helicopters are referred to by their radio call-signs. The 'Westpac 1, 2 and 3' Helicopters are often referred to as 'Angel 1, 2 and 3' though their call-signs are with the 'Westpac' prefix.
