Devon Air Ambulance introduces two new critical care cars boosted by the HELP appeal

Devon Air Ambulance (DAA) has recently unveiled two cutting-edge Critical Care Cars, enhancing its emergency response capabilities and extending vital pre-hospital care to a broader population.

The Devon Air Ambulance Trust relies on the generosity of communities, businesses, and friends of Devon to keep its air ambulances flying and its fleet of blue-light Critical Care Cars responding swiftly by road.

In 2023, they undertook 1333 missions by helicopter and 814 missions by Critical Care Car, showcasing the essential role this service plays in saving lives in the region.

The introduction of these high-performance Volvo XC90s, specially equipped for emergency response, marks a significant leap forward in the charity's mission to provide swift and efficient critical care.

The advanced 4-wheel drive vehicles come fully equipped with a blue light response kit, ensuring rapid deployment of critical care teams to the scene of incidents.

Supporting this, each Critical Care Car carries specialised medical equipment and medicines, enabling highly skilled teams to administer advanced clinical interventions and procedures on-site, ultimately improving patient outcomes and saving lives.

In 2023, DAA responded to a record-breaking 2226 incidents, with 814 of them handled by Critical Care Cars, emphasising the pivotal role these assets play in addressing life-changing or life-threatening injuries and illnesses.

Darren Goodwin, Head of Operations at Devon Air Ambulance, expressed gratitude to the HELP Appeal for funding the purchase and fit-out of the two new Volvo XC90s. 

Robert Bertram, CEO of HELP Appeal, shared the enthusiasm, stating, "This new vitally-important service will save many lives across Devon each year." The HELP Appeal's donation of £95,659 underscores their commitment to supporting critical care services that contribute to saving lives.

The expanded fleet of Critical Care Cars not only strengthens day-to-day operations for DAA but also offers medical teams greater flexibility in planning and executing emergency responses. The ability to target specific areas of high demand, such as city centres, has highlighted the adaptability of the service to meet evolving needs.

Darren Goodwin emphasised, "While we are a helicopter-led pre-hospital emergency service, these additional Critical Care Cars will give us the ability to modify our operational approach."

This adaptability will enable DAA to cater to the growing demand for the service and provide tailored emergency responses to meet the unique needs of the people of Devon.

To support the vital work of Devon Air Ambulance, visit http://daat.org