Hannah pedals for kids

Wairarapa's ambulances have a new piece of life-saving equipment, thanks to a paramedic with a penchant for pedalling.

Wellington Free Ambulance (WFA) intensive care paramedic Hannah Latta has raised $13,500 over the past year for 30 pulse oximetry probes, used to monitor oxygen levels in sick babies and children.

Ms Latta said that, having transported a number of sick children before, she could see there was a need for it.

"You can't get saturation levels off the adult ones because they are too big. It gives a fifth vital sign, the ability to assess how sick a child is - until that they can crash on you."

The children's probes wrap around a child's hand instead of being clipped on to a finger as an adult probe is.

Ms Latta, who previously worked as a navy medic and has been with WFA for six years, committed to a three-year fundraising effort for the probes, which cost nearly $500 each.

She is through the first hard year, getting a good start with a $10,000 donation from Harbour City Security in Wellington, and raising the rest by putting her cycling skills to use.

Ms Latta is a former professional cyclist and she competed in two 12-hour mountain biking rides in Taupo and Rotorua to get a kickstart on fundraising.

"It's good fun and it's for the cause. There's nothing better to drive you than the fact that you're helping children."

Ms Latta still has to raise another $8000 for maintenance of the existing devices.

"I'll be keeping the spirit alive and finding new ventures for people to donate to."

Search "Pedaling for Pediatrics" on Facebook or go to www.wfa.org.nz to find out how to donate.