Paramedic living her dream job

From making baby slings for injured schoolmates to providing intensive care from the air, flight and intensive care nurse Lorrin Kelly reflects on her career path as her profession celebrates International Paramedics Day 2024.

Growing up in Rotorua, Lorrin Kelly was always ‘that kid’ playing hospital, offering plasters and assembling a sling when her classmates made mistakes in the schoolyard.

Now, almost twenty years later, Kelly was able to celebrate International Paramedics Day yesterday in her new role as a critical care flight nurse (CCFP).

“Since I was 6 or 7 years old, I was interested in everything related to medicine, so it was natural for me to study it,” she says.

“Working with rescue helicopters is truly a dream job and I am so glad I have had great mentors who have helped me achieve this.”

Kelly is in Gisborne this week to replace the Trust’s Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter team in her role as replacement CCFP for Search and Rescue Services Ltd (the operating company owned by five North Island helicopter rescue trusts, including Gisborne’s own Eastland Helicopter Rescue Trust).

“I had only been to Gisborne once before and that was for a hockey tournament almost 15 years ago,” she says.

“It’s a great base and a welcoming, supportive team, so I really enjoy doing blocks here.”

Kelly was 19 when she moved to Auckland in 2016 to pursue a Bachelor of Health Science degree, while simultaneously playing hockey at a high level and volunteering for Hato Hone St John.

Her final two years of study were remote as she secured a position at St John’s Taupō. She continued in that role whilst also working towards a postgraduate qualification as an intensive care paramedic to gain additional skills in managing complex patients, from drug administration to advanced airway management and some invasive skills.

Backed by her advanced qualifications and years of experience on land, Kelly joined Search and Rescue Services (SRSL) last year. Before taking on the sole responsibility of CCFP, she completed an eight-month internship under the watchful eye of experienced professionals.

She also had to cut short her flight training at SRSL’s Taupō base, where she learned skills such as helicopter safety, day and night winching and hover loading and unloading.

“When we were working with the ambulance and needed emergency care, we often needed the support of the helicopter team. That reinforced my interest in aviation medicine,” she says.

“When you work in a helicopter, you usually deal with sick patients. Because you can’t just stop like you can on land, you have to be prepared for anything that can happen during the flight.

“The rescue side of things is also super interesting and you have to be prepared for the winching — planning all the gear you might need on the ground. It’s all very rewarding work.”

The theme for International Paramedics Day 2024 is “The Difference We Make” and Kelly says it’s something that motivates her every day.

“We see people at their most vulnerable, often at the time of greatest need, and it is a great privilege to be able to help at that time.

“The feedback we get from patients is that it doesn’t have to be a particularly acute situation for it to be important to them and their lives. It’s always nice to hear that.”

Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter mission log for 1-7 July

In addition to the training, maintenance and non-reportable flights over the past week, the Trust Tairāwhiti Eastland Rescue Helicopter successfully completed four missions in the seven days from 1 July.

●1 July, 14.20: Trauma at Te Reinga. Patient flown to Gisborne Hospital in serious condition.

●July 6, 3:00pm: Trauma in Whatatutu. Patient flown to Gisborne Hospital in stable condition.

●5.30pm: Motor vehicle crash in Te Araroa. Patient flown to Gisborne Hospital in stable condition.

●7 July, 1345: Team out of zone for three hours after being called to a medical event in Frasertown. Patient flown to Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital (Hastings) in serious condition.