IT has been a busy summer for the Snowy Hydro SouthCare Rescue Helicopter, with the service completing 51 missions since December 19.
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This is an increase of 17 missions for the same period last year.
Snowy Hydro SouthCare CEO, Owen Finegan, said the helicopter service was consistently busy throughout the year, performing an average of two missions per day.
“However we certainly see a spike in missions around the Christmas holiday period and warmer months when people engage in more outdoor activities and travel throughout the festive season,” Mr Finegan said.
The range of missions over the summer period was extensive, responding to motor vehicle accidents, search and rescue operations, and patient transfers between hospitals.
The period was unfortunately marked by several motor vehicle accidents, with the helicopter being called to 12 missions on our highways and country roads.
The most frequent destination for the helicopter was the NSW South Coast with 16 missions completed in the area, including a near drowning at Moruya.
There were two secondary missions to specialised hospitals in Sydney for a burns patient, and another spinal patient.
“It is comforting to know that the service was able to provide more than 50 patients essential medical care over the December and January period,” Mr Finegan said.