VMR Whitsunday frequently performs medical evacuations (medivacs) in partnership with the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS). Last year, we completed 67 medivacs. When someone calls 000, the duty QAS supervisor assesses the situation’s urgency and determines whether a medivac is necessary. The decision to use a helicopter or boat depends on various factors, including weather conditions and helicopter availability. If a helicopter can’t be used, we’re often the first call.
Medivacs can occur anywhere in the Whitsundays—on island resorts, boats at sea, campgrounds, or even the outer reef. These missions can happen at any time, day or night, and in almost any weather conditions. We always have at least one, and sometimes two, QAS paramedics on board during a medivac.
Our vessel, Coral Sea Marina VMR1, is specially designed for medivacs and other emergencies. It is equipped with a QAS stretcher and a “Combi-Carrier,” a split backboard that ensures safer and more comfortable patient transfers onto and off the vessel, and to or from a QAS stretcher on shore.
Our dedicated crew is trained to handle these critical situations, ensuring the safety and comfort of patients during transit. With our state-of-the-art equipment and experienced team, VMR Whitsunday is ready to respond whenever the call comes in.