New ultrasound equipment for Northland rescue helicopters

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Northlanders in need of urgent medical attention are now benefit-ing from new diagnostic ultrasound equipmenton board the Northland
Electricity Rescue Helicopters, speed-ing up diagnosis time during life-threatening emergencies.

Introduced to Northland Emergancy Services Trust (NEST) helicopters in time for the busy New Year holiday period, the machine is compact and light-weight, making it ideal for the aeromedical operation. The team have already used it more than half a dozen times on injured patients.

The St John intensive care flight paramedics that accompany NEST on each flight have received comprehen-sive training on the new equipment. Paramedic Rob Keating says this ad-vanced diagnostic tool will significant-ly assist in saving more lives.

“Patients with abdominal or chest injuries can be quickly scanned by ul-trasound, resulting in internal injuries being diagnosed with a high level of accuracy,” he says.

“Early diagnosis of internal injuries means the St John paramedics can decide on the best treatment for the patient, whether that be a change in treatment plan, or transporting them to an appropriate hospital for specialist care.”

The diagnostic ultrasound is a safe, painless and rapid imaging technique that uses high frequency sound waves to penetrate the human body. Echoes of these sound waves are detected and allow the clinician to have a 3D, real time view of a patients internal organs. NEST CEO and Chief Pilot Peter Turnbull says the intensive care par-amedics are now leading thecharge in New Zealand, having undertaken specific training by emergency physicians.

“Traditionally, ultrasounds were performed by doctors in the emergency department,but now there’s a worldwide trend for paramedics to take this technology and use it outside the hospital – in our case, the air.

“The new equipment will expand the care and service we provide to our patients, while benefiting the commu-nity as a whole. You never know when you might need it,” he says.

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