The Aerocool Rescue Helicopter carried out 49 life-saving missions within the coastal Bay of Plenty area during February.

These missions included 27 inter-hospital transfers, five medical events, eight rural/farm incidents, one motor vehicle accident and eight miscellaneous missions, said a statement from the Tauranga-based rescue helicopter.

"It is a busy start to the year for the rescue helicopter, which has completed eight more missions compared with last January and February, which is a 7.4% increase in life-saving missions," a spokesperson said in a statement.

The Aerocool Rescue Helicopter was most often seen at Tauranga Hospital, with 12 inter-hospital transfers, and Whakatāne Hospital with seven inter-hospital transfers.

Other hotspots the rescue helicopter crew were required at included Whangamatā, Matakana Island and Mōtītī Island, alongside many other remote and challenging locations where personne; provide life-saving care in time-critical situations.

"The month began with the helicopter being dispatched to Tauranga Hospital to pick up a woman who was experiencing a serious medical event that required further treatment.

"The patient was airlifted to Waikato Hospital with a flight time of under 30 minutes."

On Wednesday morning, February 5, the helicopter was dispatched to Whangamatā for a patient who was in critical condition. The patient was treated on scene by the onboard Critical Care Flight Paramedic for about 50 minutes before being stable enough to be flown, reads the statement.

The patient was airlifted to Waikato Hospital to receive further treatment.

That afternoon, the helicopter was dispatched to Matakana Island, where a man had suffered injuries. He was flown to Tauranga Hospital for further medical care.

On the evening of Thursday, February 6, the helicopter was requested at Waihī to attend to a man who was in critical condition.

The patient was stabilised at the scene for about an hour by the onboard critical care flight paramedic before being flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment. The flight time from Waihī to Waikato Hospital was 20 minutes.

In the early hours of Friday, February 7, the helicopter was tasked to Motiti Island for a woman who was experiencing a serious medical event.

The patient was treated at the scene by the onboard critical care paramedic for about 35 minutes before the crew loaded her into the rescue helicopter and transported her to Tauranga Hospital for further medical treatment.

In the early hours of Wednesday, February 12, the helicopter was dispatched to Whakatāne Hospital after a man suffered crush injuries to his hand. He patient was flown to Waikato Hospital for further treatment.

On the afternoon Thursday, February 13, the helicopter was dispatched to Kawerau after a man received potentially life-threatening injuries in a significant fall.

He was treated at the scene for about an hour and a half by the onboard critical care paramedic before being flown to Waikato Hospital for further medical care.

On the evening of Tuesday, February 18, the helicopter was sent to Whakatāne Hospital for a woman who had suffered a serious head injury after a water-related incident. The patient was transported to Middlemore Hospital to receive further medical care.

On the afternoon of Thursday, February 20, the helicopter was dispatched to Pirongia to assist a woman who was experiencing a medical event. She was treated at the scene for about 30 minutes before being flown to Waikato Hospital for further medical treatment.

"The Aerocool Rescue Helicopter regularly carries out up to four missions in a day, and February 22 was such a day," the rescue helicopter spokesperson said.

"First the helicopter was dispatched to Ruatoki for a male who was in an immediately life-threatening condition after a motor vehicle accident. He was stabilised at the scene for about 1 hour and 20 minutes before being swiftly airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further medical care.

"Later that day, the helicopter crew flew to Matarangi to assist a man who was in critical condition. The patient was treated at the scene for about 30 minutes before being airlifted to Waikato Hospital for further medical care.

"Then later that evening, the helicopter was dispatched to Nukuhou for a patient who was experiencing a time-critical medical condition. The patient was stabilised at the scene by the onboard critical care paramedic for about an hour and 10 minutes before being swiftly flown to Waikato Hospital for further medical care.

"Then the rescue helicopter crew were sent to Waihau Bay for a man who was experiencing a serious medical event. The patient was stabilised at the scene for about 30 minutes before being flown to Whakatāne Hospital for further treatment."

The month ended with the Aerocool Rescue Helicopter being dispatched to Rotorua Hospital for a man who was experiencing a serious medical event. The patient was flown to Waikato Hospital to receive further medical treatment with a flight time of about 30 minutes, compared with a time of an hour and 35 minutes by road.

"The fast response of the rescue helicopter and its highly trained crew ensures the patients receive the best care as quickly as possible."

Donate towards life-saving equipment for Aerocool Rescue Helicopter at https://give.rescue.org.nz/event/aerocool-rescue-helicopter/donate