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RAC Rescue paramedic Josh sitting in the helicopter

Club news

What it's like being a critical care paramedic with the RAC Rescue helicopter service

Published Oct 2024

1 min read

RAC Rescue stories

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Published Oct 2024

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Watch to check out Josh's workplace inside the RAC Rescue helicopter

When a call comes in, RAC Rescue helicopter critical care paramedic (CCP) Josh Lyons is the first to pick up.

As the person whose responsibility it is to treat and stabilise patients both on the ground and on-board the aircraft, he’s remarkably humble about his contribution.

When the phone rings with call out for the RAC Rescue helicopters, Josh takes down the incident details from St John Ambulance and passes on the information to the pilot with the latitude and longitude of the site.

He then preps for the medical emergency they might be attending, loading the helicopter with medicines and blood that he’ll need for the job which can sometimes last longer than five hours.

If the helicopter can’t make a safe landing, he’s winched down to the patient to put them on the stretcher and bring them up safely to the helicopter.

Lucky for him, he’s not afraid of heights.

The yellow RAC Helicopter is hoisting two people up from a boat out at sea

Proudly sponsoring WA’s only 24/7 emergency rescue helicopter service

The RAC Rescue helicopters provide vital search, rescue and critical care medical services to the WA community.

Find out more

The RAC Rescue helicopters are funded by the State Government, managed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) and sponsored by RAC.

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