International Women’s Day: celebrating women crew members
Philips Search and Rescue Trust gives an insight into the experiences of the women in its crews
Every year on 8 March, International Women's Day is celebrated globally.
In 2023, the women of New Zealand's Philips Search and Rescue Trust explain what a day in their life as a crew member looks like.
The Greenlea, Grassroots Trust, Aerocool and Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopters make up the Trust.
Libbie, Greenlea Rescue Helicopter
Libbie has worked onboard the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter for almost four years, as rescue helicopter crew.
Her responsibilities include checking the aircraft for security prior to any flight. Depending on the mission, she assists the pilot in navigation, operates the hoist and/or assists the critical care paramedic with unstable patient treatment.
Libbie explained: “I decided to join as a volunteer with St John Ambulance and really loved working on the ambulance and being there for people. But I later found that I loved working at heights and in the outdoors and thought it would be the perfect job for me.”
Leigh, Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter
Leigh has been onboard the Grassroots Trust Rescue Helicopter for two years, and always knew she wanted to work in medicine. She joined the Grassroots Rescue Helicopter with a Bachelor of Health Science and eight years of experience as an Air Force Medic.
She describes her role as the tie between the pilot and critical care flight paramedic, trying to merge the aviation and medical environments.
When the crew are first assigned a mission, Leigh is responsible for pushing the helicopter out of the hangar and assisting the pilot with the start-up procedures and pre-take-off checks. Once airborne, she helps with navigation and radios, providing a second set of eyes.
Once they get overhead the scene, Leigh provides information and feedback to the pilot regarding the best landing site and any obstacles or hazards.
“I then assist the critical care paramedic with patient care and organize the logistics of patient movement from the scene to the helicopter and confirm the receiving hospital destination,” she said. “Once airborne, I again switch between the medical and aviation worlds – helping both the critical care paramedic and pilot.”
Kara, Aerocool Rescue Helicopter
Kara has been onboard the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter for almost a year, and is responsible for assisting with providing medical care and transportation to those in need.
She describes her role as being ‘the pilot’s second set of eyes and ears and the critical care flight paramedic’s extra set of hands’. Her role requires pre-flight inspections of the helicopter as the pilot starts up the engines. She also shares the on-scene coordinates with the pilot from the iPad data and undertakes a pre-take-off check. En route, she will update air desk communications with current location, intentions and route.
Kara explained: “Depending on the nature of the mission, my duties range from assessing the scene landing area and keeping the team updated with this information, actively looking out for any hazards or other aircrafts during our flight, and liaising with ambulance comms or on-scene responders.
“Occasionally, we can’t land at all. In this instance, I am responsible for operating the winch and getting the CCFP to the patient and bringing them both back into the aircraft safely.”
Jennifer, Waikato Rescue Helicopter
Jennifer has been onboard the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter for almost a year, previously working on front-line ambulances in the Waikato as a paramedic for eight years.
She is responsible for a mix of aviation and medical responsibilities and checking the aircraft for security as it starts up prior to any flight. Depending on the mission, the crew duties can include assisting the pilot in navigation, operating the hoist and/or assisting the critical care paramedic with unstable patient treatment.
“The duties are quite diverse, which keeps things interesting,” said Jennifer. “I recently completed my first operation winch – which was memorable, as it was the first time I got to use all my newly acquired skills to help someone in need.”
She explained how she was attracted to the role: “I had friends that worked on the rescue helicopter and hearing stories from them made me interested in the job. Being able to help people in remote areas have access to medical care is pretty amazing,” she said.