HELICOPTERS buzzed over Sorrento and the surrounding area last Tuesday and Wednesday during Ambulance Victoria training exercises.

Joining the ambulance helicopter training were choppers from Victoria Police and volunteers from Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad.

The choppers worked out of the rescue service base at Sorrento Park. Intensive care flight paramedic team manager Mick Adam said the training helped fine-tune rescues between the services.

"Unfortunately, we saw a lot of drownings and near-drownings in and around the bay over summer," he said.

"In many of those cases an ambulance helicopter was called in to treat people or fly them from isolated beaches.

"[Today's exercise is] important training that will ultimately be used to save a life."

The exercises included winching paramedics into the water to practise rescues.

"We also did some winching from boats, which is important if someone becomes seriously ill or injured while on Port Phillip," Mr Adam said.

"Volunteers of the Southern Peninsula Rescue Squad were used as mock patients and it's a great opportunity to work with them to give them an understanding of what we do."