About Us
We are the only emergency ambulance service in greater Wellington and the Wairarapa, and the only ones in the country who are free.
We are the only emergency ambulance service in greater Wellington and the Wairarapa, and the only ones in the country who are free.
What we doOur news
It's Aotearoa Patient Safety Day: See how we are keeping our smallest patients safe
It's Aotearoa Patient Safety Day: See how we are keeping our smallest patients safe
17 November 2020
Wellington Free Ambulance is keeping its littlest patients safe at every step of the way with a specially designed Ferno NeoMate Paediatric Restraint System.
The World Health Organisation states that 50% of children are incorrectly restrained in a moving vehicle; with this in mind Wellington Free provides this restraint system specific to neonates.
Paramedic and new mum Emma says “the NeoMate ensures our smallest patients who weigh under 6kgs, can travel safely and securely in a five-point harness, that can be easily attached to ambulance stretchers.”
“Whether it be a non-urgent inter hospital transfer where an infant requires monitoring en route or a critically unwell infant requiring urgent transport and treatment while driving under lights; the restraints allow easy access for treatment without compromising patient safety.”
Under New Zealand law , all children under the age of seven years must be in an approved child restraint appropriate for their size and weight, says Emma.
“One way we can ensure patient safety and mitigate risk of injury is to provide the correct safety restraints for all our patients, especially our smallest.”
Pedi Mate harnesses are also available in all Wellington Free Emergency Ambulance Service ambulances to transport young patients weighing between 4.5 - 18 kg.
“With my husband and I both being paramedics, and new parents - knowing that these restraint systems are available has definitely given us peace of mind, that if our son or any other infant, needed to be transported to hospital, they would be safe in an appropriate child restraint system.
“Being in a situation where your child is very unwell and has to be rushed to hospital in an ambulance is distressing for any parent,” says Emma.
“As an emergency service, providing a safe transport reassures parents that their child is safe and they can be confident we are doing everything we can to ensure the best outcome.”
Reflecting on this year’s Aotearoa Patient Safety Day theme of getting through together Emma says patient safety is a primary goal for paramedics. “Every patient deserves to feel safe when they are in our care including our smaller more vulnerable paediatric patients.”
“Giving them lots of reassurance and providing them with the best equipment and safety devices, means we are responding with the quality care that Wellington Free Ambulance is known for.”
As part of Aotearoa Patient Safety Day (Tuesday 17 November), every day this week we are sharing how we ensure patient safety in all that we do.