About Us

“We care about you, and want you to have a great time, but we also want you to take care and stay safe this summer,” Dave says.

“Whether you’re staying home, heading to the beach or tramping in the bush, incidents can happen anywhere. Allergies, seasonal viruses, infections and chronic conditions can also make situations more complex. It’s important to be careful and look out for one another. To help minimise the risk of COVID-19 in our community, it is especially important to practice good hand hygiene and keep track of where you have been."

Andy and Dave share with us their top tips on staying well and looking after whānau and friends this summer.  

• Take care in the sun. Wear your sunglasses and sunscreen, drink plenty of water and find some shade to avoid overheating. Heat illness can range from dehydration and exacerbation of chronic diseases to heat stroke.
  
  
• If heading to the coast, like many kiwis do, take care and keep an eye on anyone swimming, especially children.  Be aware of tides and rips, and only swim between the flags. Always wear lifejackets when out on the water.
  
  
• If you’re out in the bush have a plan, know your limits, and tell people where you’re going.  Beware of the weather, and take the right equipment and supplies with you. If you have a personal locator beacon be sure to have it on you.
  
  
• With long summer days and nights comes barbeques, campfires and dry weather. Before lighting any campfires, consider the weather and conditions – you may need a permit and in some cases they are not permitted at all. Remove hazards or flammable items around barbeques areas, and your home. Keep looking while you’re cooking and make sure emergency services can access your property if they need to.
  
  
• There is always lots of movement on the roads over the summer period, with people coming in and out of the region early mornings and late at night. When you’re ready to set off, plan your trip, allow plenty of time for the journey and take regular breaks.  Watch your speed, drive sober, drive to the environment and avoid distractions such as cell phones.
  
  
• Stay well and be prepared. Have all your medications sorted and prescriptions picked up ahead of the holidays as some services may be closed. Remember to take it easy, keep up with regular exercise, eat balanced and healthy meals and be mindful of alcohol consumption. Stay safe and look after yourself.

Andy says that even with our advice and tips, if you think you need our help don’t hesitate to call 111.

“We’re here for you when you need us most. If you’re not sure, call 111 and our emergency medical call takers will work out the best help. If your situation is life-threatening or time-critical, you’re our priority. If you need our care but it’s safe to wait, bear with us and we’ll be with you when we can," he says.

"To ensure we get the right help to you in the best possible time you might get a call from one of our paramedics or nurses to get more information and understand what’s happening for you. They may ask if you have alternative means to transport to hospital. If there are going to be significant delays, we’ll call you back to see if your situation has changed," he says.

We’re here for you this summer, but looking after yourself and each other is really important too.