Air ambulance helped 300 people last year (From Bournemouth Echo)

Air ambulance helped 300 people last year

1:00pm Sunday 10th February 2013 in News

NEARLY 300 people in distress across the county were helped by the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance last year.

The charity released statistics this week showing that they attended 615 incidents over the two counties, including 280 medical emergencies, 125 road traffic incidents, and 96 sporting or leisure incidents, of which nearly half were equestrian.

Their busiest day of the week was a Saturday, and the busiest month was August with 72 call-outs.

They have now flown some 9,150 missions since the service was launched in March, 2000. It costs around £4,000 a day to keep the helicopter flying, and the charity receives no direct Government or Lottery funding.

Chief executive officer Bill Sivewright said: “We have helped to save countless lives over the years because we can reach any part of the two counties in 19 minutes and we know that patients who receive treatment within the first hour have a much better chance of survival. The funds raised by the people of Dorset and Somerset have been vital to delivering the service and we are grateful to them for their generous support.”

The next major fundraising event will be the third annual Coast to Coast cycle ride between Watchet in Somerset and West Bay in Dorset, taking place on May 19. Visit www.dsairambulance.org.uk for information.