The Mount Isa RACQ LifeFlight Rescue crew is ready and equipped to carry out winch rescues throughout the wet season, after an action-packed day of training on Tuesday December 10.
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The rescue helicopter headed to an oval in Mount Isa, where the crew practised lowering Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) Flight Paramedics in and out of the aircraft.
They ran through single and double person winches, as well as hoisting a patient on a stretcher.
RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Base Lead Billy McCreadie said winching was useful when a patient required rescuing from an inaccessible location.
"We may turn to winching if an area is flooded, or if people need rescuing from rugged terrain," Mr McCreadie said.
He said the extensive training ensured the crew would bring their skills together in the safest way possible, when they responded to emergencies.
"It's a skill that you need to practise and it takes a lot of crew coordination to get the job done efficiently and safely," Mr McCreadie said.
Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) Critical Care Flight Paramedic Andrew Jempson said winching was a valuable skill.
"With weather events and flooding we've experienced up here in the past, the need for winch extraction is vital to the area in an emergency and could save a life," Mr Jempson said.
The 2018-2019 financial year was a record twelve months for the Mount Isa RACQ LifeFlight Rescue base, with the crew flying 49 critical missions, valued at more than $610,000, at no cost to patients.
Search and rescues were the most common mission type throughout that period.
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