Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service was founded in 1973 by Surf Life Saving Australia. Since their beginning they have saved over 50,000 lives.

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service is the longest serving search and rescue helicopter service in the world, it 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.

The major sponsor of the helicopter services is the banking corporation, Westpac.

Operational areas

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service operates in fives states in Australia and New Zealand. These states are:

New South Wales

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service has four operation bases and a total of eight rescue aircraft in New South Wales. All ambulance contracted helicopters in NSW fly with onboard Doctors and Paramedics.
*Sydney at Life Saver Helicopter Cape Banks Facility (Life Saver 1).
*Lismore (Life Saver 2, Life Saver 4 and a Life Saver helicopter purchased for a possible Coffs Harbour base).
*Newcastle (Westpac 1 and Westpac 2).
*Tamworth (Westpac 3 and Westpac 4)

Queensland

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters 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.

Victoria

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter is not run in Victoria any more, Lifesaving Victoria (LSV) and Surf Lifesaving Australia (SLSA) made the decision because it became too expensive to run. Lifesaver 7, a fixed wing Cessna 337 and Lifesaver 8, also a fixed wing, Partenavia P68-B, are the only Westpac aerial services run in Victoria at the moment. If a helicopter is needed, either the Police Helicopter or the Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad helicopter will be called.

Tasmania

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service in Tasmania plays a vital part of the emergency 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 as well as the Tasmanian Police.

outh 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. Its patrolling region is the Adelaide coastline from North Haven to Normanville, and the South Coast from Parsons Beach to the Murray Mouth, including Victor Harbor, Port Elliot, Middleton and Goolwa. It works together with other Surf Lifesaving support services, including Lifesaver 1 and Lifesaver 3, the state Jet Rescue Boats.

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 missionsA 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 missionsA 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 missionsA 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 missionsA 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.)

Crew

Pilot

The Service's pilots are highly trained having flown thousands of hours in twin engined aircraft.

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).

Air Crewman

Responsible for the co-ordination of missions. Takes control of all communications with Hospitals, Ambulance Officers and other emergency services.

CAT Paramedic

These NSW Ambulance Service staff work on the Rescue Helicopter as part of the team. They Possess elite skills in Advance Life Support (ALS) and trauma management, have skills in accessing and treating patients in difficult or remote locations. They work closely with the local Accredited Rescue Unit and may assist with the extrication of the patient. They provide patient care and are responsible for preparing the aero medical evacuation missions, coordinating with the Air Crewman and other medical personnel, and liaising with retrieval services.

Doctor

Are specially qualified in Pre-Hospital Emergency Care and are able to provide advance life support care to a patient.

Rescue AirCrewman

Provides the combined support of a Rescue Crewman and AirCrewman.

Aircraft

New South Wales

Lifesaver 1 (Southern Region, Sydney)

This helicopter is a Kawasaki Heavy Industries BK 117B2. [http://www.lifesaver.org.au/technical.htm Southern Region Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service - Helicopters] ]

Westpac 1 (Hunter Region, Newcastle)

"Westpac 1" is a Bell 412, based in Newcastle. Westpac 1 is the first response aircraft for the Newcastle Region [http://www.rescuehelicopter.com.au/operations/helicopters/ Hunter Region Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service - Helicopters] ]

Westpac 2 (Hunter Region, Newcastle)

This helicopter is a Kawasaki Heavy Industries BK 117B2 based in Newcastle.

Westpac 3 (New England/North West Region, Tamworth)

This helicopter is a twin engine BK117, based in Tamworth. This callsign was previously assigned to a Bell 407 which was involved in an accident in February 2007 [http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21159383-5001021,00.html Hero Westpac pilot praised, Daily Telegraph] ]

Lifesaver 2 (Northern Region, Lismore)

This helicopter is a twin engine Eurocopter AS 365 N2 Dauphin, based in Lismore [http://www.helirescue.com.au/operations/aircraft.php Northern Region Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service - Helicopters] ] .

Lifesaver 4 (Northern Region, Lismore)

This helicopter is a twin engine Eurocopter SA 365 C1 Dauphin, based in Lismore [http://www.helirescue.com.au/operations/aircraft.php Northern Region Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service - Helicopters] ] .

Victoria

Lifesaver 7 (Melbourne, Victoria)

Lifesaver 7 is a fixed wing Cessna 337, used mainly for shark spotting.

Lifesaver 8 (Melbourne, Victoria)

Lifesaver 8 is a fixed wing Partenavia P68-B, used mainly for shark spotting.

Queensland

Lifesaver 5 (Gold Coast)

This helicopter is a Eurocopter AS-350Super D1.

Lifesaver 6 (Caloundra)

This helicopter is a Eurocopter AS-350B.

outh Australia

Westpac 501

This helicopter is a Eurocopter AS-350B. Registration VH-ELP. The helicopter is named 'Nick' after Nick Peterson who was tragically taken by a shark of the Adelaide coastline.

Ambulance Service of NSW Contract

In late 2006, the future of the Westpac Life Saver and NRMA Careflight helicopter services was put in doubt. The NSW Government had sought a new tender to provide the Helicopter Emergency Medical Services for the Sydney and Central West areas [Valejo, J: "The Daily Telegraph", November 23, 2006] .

In mid December 2006, the NSW Health Minister, John Hatzistergos, announced that the Canadian Helicopter Corporation had won the tendering process and subsequently the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter and Careflight services would end as of December 31, 2006 [Valejo, J and Masters, C: "The Daily Telegraph", December 9, 2006] .

The services of the Westpac Life Saver Helicopters were extended until the end of May 2007, whilst Careflight was going to cease serve the community as of January 1,

Westpac Life Saver announced that they would continue their services after May 2007, by reverting to their original purpose as a Search and Rescue Helicopter Service as a part of Surf Life Saving Australia. That meant that they would still be serving the people of NSW, but without the Ambulance Service of NSW contract [Westpac Australia: "Another 'Eye In The Sky' Means Safer Beaches For Sydney", January 5, 2007] .

Ryan Guthrie created a petition and a website designed to 'Save the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter' from being replaced by CHC [Valejo, J and Masters, C: "The Daily Telegraph", December 9, 2006] . Guthrie's endeavours to save the service were heavily documented in the media; the Manly Daily, Daily Telegraph and the St George & Sutherland Shire Leader newspapers published interviews with him. The website http://www.savelifesaver.info received over 29,000 visits and the petition he created has received over 42,900 signatures to date.

As of May 18, 2007 the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters in Sydney have returned to their original role as Search and Rescue helicopters.

"Please Note": The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Services will continue to operate from the Hunter Region and Lismore bases in NSW and all other states where the helicopter service exists.

References

ee also

*Westpac Rescue Helicopter (New Zealand)

External links

* [http://www.lifesaver.org.au Southern Region]
* [http://www.angel2.org.au Hunter Region]
* [http://www.helirescue.com.au Northern Region]
* [http://www.offshore.org.au Cronulla District Lifesaver Rescue]
* [http://www.lifesavingvictoria.com.au/www/html/85-westpac-aerial-services.asp Victorian Aerial Services]