Thousands helped by LifeFlight in record-breaking financial year

During the 2021-2022 financial year, RACQ LifeFlight Rescue's helicopter fleet was called upon to be part of the multi-agency emergency response efforts, during three separate catastrophic flood events.

One of the most common call outs for the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue community choppers in the past 12 months, was to assist people involved in motor vehicle incidents.

"It's incredibly disappointing to see crashes still in the top five reasons for call outs for the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Service.  We know that many of these crashes are caused by the 'Fatal Five' and are avoidable and drivers need to be taking more responsibility for their behaviour behind the wheel," said RACQ Spokesperson, Tristan Vorias. "Our message to motorists, is to drive like your life depends on it – because it does. Already this year we've lost more than 150 lives on Queensland roads and tragically we are on track to surpass last year's road toll."

The top five patient injury and illness types across Queensland were:

1. Serious illness/infection (316)
2. Motor vehicle incidents (239)
3. Cardiac conditions (287)
4. Respiratory (not Covid-19) (149)
5. Falls (126).

The Brisbane-based chopper clocked up the highest number of flying hours of the LifeFlight rotary-wing fleet, spending 1,126 hours in the air, resulting in 474 people helped.

Those critical missions had an estimated value of $11.85 million dollars, which comes at no cost to the patient.

Top five Brisbane patient injury and illness types were:

1. Serious illness/infection (149)
2. Cardiac (103)
3. Respiratory (48)
4. Motor vehicle incidents (32)
5. Neonatal (29).

In the past 12 months, the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Air Ambulance jet crews, based in Brisbane and Townsville, came to the aid of 432 people.

"We're proud to make a difference in the lives of so many people, including those in rural and regional Queensland, by being ready to respond, 24/7, 365 days a year," said General Manager of RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Operations, Brian Guthrie. "We provide a critical service and high level of pre-hospital care to anyone who needs it, and that world-class care comes at no cost to patients."