Reed Charitable Trust helps power life-saving training for Northern Rescue crews

Every emergency mission demands precision, teamwork, and the ability to respond under immense pressure. Thanks to the generous support of the Reed Charitable Trust, Northern Rescue crews will soon have access to new specialist aeromedical training equipment designed to strengthen operational readiness and ensure early safe optimal patient care patient care across the region.

Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust is incredibly grateful for the Trust’s recent grant which will fund the purchase of critical training resources including a high-fidelity rescue manikin, certified crew harness systems, and an advanced junctional hemorrhage training tool.

These specialised tools will help prepare crews for some of the most challenging and high-risk emergencies they may encounter in the field.

Advancing trauma training through realistic simulation

One of the most significant additions is the junctional hemorrhage trainer, an advanced simulation tool that allows clinical crews to practise complex, life-saving interventions in highly realistic scenarios. Junctional hemorrhages involve catastrophic bleeding in areas such as the neck, groin, or axilla, where conventional tourniquets cannot be applied. These injuries are among the most difficult and time-critical emergencies in trauma care, with patients able to deteriorate within minutes if rapid treatment is not delivered. Realistic, hands-on training is essential to ensuring crews can respond confidently and effectively when every second counts.

Strengthening rescue operations across the region

The new rescue manikin and certified crew harness systems will also significantly enhance operational training. The life-sized rescue manikin provides crews with a highly realistic training platform for winch operations, water rescues, and patient handling exercises. It enables paramedics, doctors, and aircrew officers to safely rehearse complex rescue scenarios in a controlled environment before responding to real-life emergencies.The certified crew harness systems are another critical safety enhancement, helping keep crew members secure while performing medical and operational tasks onboard the helicopter during flight.

Investing in crew safety and better patient outcomes

Support from the Reed Charitable Trust represents an investment not only in advanced training equipment, but also in crew safety, operational excellence, and improved outcomes for patients.

By helping equip crews with the tools they need to train at the highest standard, the Trust is playing a direct role in strengthening emergency aeromedical care for communities throughout Auckland, Coromandel and the Hauraki Gulf. We sincerely thank the Reed Charitable Trust for its generosity and ongoing commitment to supporting life-saving rescue services.

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