Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance
Encyclopedia
The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is a registered charity
, which uses a helicopter
to provide an air ambulance
service to the English counties of Dorset
and Somerset
. The air ambulance came into service in March 2000, following the success of similar schemes, such as Devon Air Ambulance Trust
and Cornwall Air Ambulance
. The air ambulance headquarters are at Wellington
in Somerset, but the helicopter is based at Henstridge
Airfield in Somerset.
, callsign Helimed 10, which has been in service since 2007.
Travelling at speeds up to 150 kn (182.7 mph; 294 km/h), it can land in an area half the size of a tennis court, and can reach anywhere in the two counties within twenty minutes of an emergency call. It is crewed by one pilot and two paramedic
s and can carry two patients on stretchers. The pilots are employed by Bond Air Services
, the company which leases the helicopter to the air ambulance service, and the paramedics are employed by South Western Ambulance Service
.
and it has flown at total of 8,233.
In 2009, the helicopter flew 982 missions, an increase on the 853 flown in 2008. Typical incidents, for which the assistance of the air ambulance is requested by South Western Ambulance Service
, include road traffic collisions and horse riding accidents due to the remote locations and the severity of injuries involved in such incidents.
The helicopter is leased from Bond Air Services
and costs in excess of £3,800 per day to run, this money has to be raised largely from charitable donations. The charity is supported by volunteers spread across the two counties who work to raise funds to ensure that this service continues. It also runs a weekly lottery which, to date, has over 18,000 members.
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
, which uses a helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
to provide an air ambulance
Air ambulance
An air ambulance is an aircraft used for emergency medical assistance in situations where either a traditional ambulance cannot reach the scene easily or quickly enough, or the patient needs to be transported over a distance or terrain that makes air transportation the most practical transport....
service to the English counties of Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
and Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. The air ambulance came into service in March 2000, following the success of similar schemes, such as Devon Air Ambulance Trust
Devon Air Ambulance Trust
The Devon Air Ambulance is an organisation providing emergency medical services through the provision of two helicopter air ambulances covering the county of Devon in the South West of England, United Kingdom...
and Cornwall Air Ambulance
Cornwall Air Ambulance
The Cornwall Air Ambulance is a dedicated helicopter emergency service for the English county of Cornwall. The helicopter flies approximately 1000 missions per annum, having flown over 20,000 missions. When introduced on 1 April 1987, Cornwall's Air ambulance became the first dedicated Helicopter...
. The air ambulance headquarters are at Wellington
Wellington, Somerset
Wellington is a small industrial town in rural Somerset, England, situated south west of Taunton in the Taunton Deane district, near the border with Devon, which runs along the Blackdown Hills to the south of the town...
in Somerset, but the helicopter is based at Henstridge
Henstridge
Henstridge is a village and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated miles east of Sherborne in the South Somerset district, near the border with Dorset. The parish includes the hamlet of Yenston...
Airfield in Somerset.
Aircraft
The current helicopter is a Eurocopter EC 135Eurocopter EC 135
The Eurocopter EC135 is a twin-engine civil helicopter produced by Eurocopter, widely used amongst police and ambulance services and for executive transport. It is capable of flight under instrument flight rules .-Development:...
, callsign Helimed 10, which has been in service since 2007.
Travelling at speeds up to 150 kn (182.7 mph; 294 km/h), it can land in an area half the size of a tennis court, and can reach anywhere in the two counties within twenty minutes of an emergency call. It is crewed by one pilot and two paramedic
Paramedic
A paramedic is a healthcare professional that works in emergency medical situations. Paramedics provide advanced levels of care for medical emergencies and trauma. The majority of paramedics are based in the field in ambulances, emergency response vehicles, or in specialist mobile units such as...
s and can carry two patients on stretchers. The pilots are employed by Bond Air Services
Bond Aviation Group
Bond Aviation Group is a large British helicopter operator based at Gloucestershire Airport, Staverton. It incorporates Bond Air Services and Bond Offshore Helicopters...
, the company which leases the helicopter to the air ambulance service, and the paramedics are employed by South Western Ambulance Service
South Western Ambulance Service
The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is the authority responsible for providing ambulance services for the National Health Service in the English counties of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset...
.
Operations
In May 2011, the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance flew its 8,000th mission,and it has flown at total of 8,233.
In 2009, the helicopter flew 982 missions, an increase on the 853 flown in 2008. Typical incidents, for which the assistance of the air ambulance is requested by South Western Ambulance Service
South Western Ambulance Service
The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is the authority responsible for providing ambulance services for the National Health Service in the English counties of Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset...
, include road traffic collisions and horse riding accidents due to the remote locations and the severity of injuries involved in such incidents.
The helicopter is leased from Bond Air Services
Bond Aviation Group
Bond Aviation Group is a large British helicopter operator based at Gloucestershire Airport, Staverton. It incorporates Bond Air Services and Bond Offshore Helicopters...
and costs in excess of £3,800 per day to run, this money has to be raised largely from charitable donations. The charity is supported by volunteers spread across the two counties who work to raise funds to ensure that this service continues. It also runs a weekly lottery which, to date, has over 18,000 members.