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Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity has recently unveiled three new rapid response vehicles to support the lifesaving organisation’s operations across the region.
As the charity covers the largest air ambulance operating area in England, it is imperative the expert aircrew can rely on the very best vehicles to swiftly reach, and subsequently treat those in critical need of pre-hospital care.
With assistance from its corporate partners, M6toll, the charity took delivery of a fleet of three BMW X5 rapid response vehicles (RRVs) to complement air operations. The three Authority specification BMW X5 vehicles are situated at the organisation’s three airbases – RAF Cosford in Shropshire, Tatenhill airfield in Staffordshire, and Strensham Services on the M5 in Worcestershire. Already in action, the new cars are deployed if a helicopter is grounded, for example during the hours of darkness or a period of, particularly bad weather.
On average five per cent of incidents Midlands Air Ambulance attends are via the RRVs, enabling the aircrew to continue to offer early medical intervention and save lives when the aircraft is not an option.
Becky Steele, air operations manager for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, highlights the decision to invest in the BMW X5 series model: “The X5 is a tried and tested rapid response vehicle for the emergency services. Its large interior is perfect for a bespoke medical equipment fit-out, while the model’s advanced capability means it is a reliable asset, ensuring our clinicians tend to incidents swiftly and safely.”
To take full advantage of the space and maximise clinician’s time efficiency at the incident scene, a great deal of research went into the medical fit-out of the BMWs, with the charity’s health partner, West Midlands Ambulance Service. Duplicating the medical kit on the helicopters, the BMWs are ready for action at a moment’s notice. Each RRV carries a range of kit including; two response bags, a Zoll cardiac monitor, suction and ventilation equipment, leg splints, oxygen, burns packs, scene lighting and a safe for storing drugs in transit.
Becky continues: “Our medical crews are trained to the highest standard and these high-tech vehicles complement our operations perfectly. Thanks to their capability and the kit on board, they are already enabling us to save even more lives across the region.”
James Hodson, director of operations for Midland Expressway, operators of the M6toll, added: “M6toll has since day one proudly supported Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, donating over £270,000. Roads are our business and we know that most of the work Midlands Air Ambulance Charity has to do concerns road traffic accidents, therefore understand the vital importance of the service they provide. The RRVs have been kitted out with a Tag, allowing free use of the M6toll enabling their teams to reach incidents across the region even quicker.”
Richard Yates, head of Carnation Designs, Ring Automotive, said: “We are very pleased to have played a part in the conversion of these X5 response vehicles for the MAA, working in conjunction with WMAS. The genisys systems we provided manage the vehicle conversion electronics and intelligently integrate with their onboard mobile PCs. These are very high spec cars, which look fantastic alongside the aircraft, and we are proud to have our kit on-board.”
Darrell Mansfield, founder and CEO of The Mansfield Group, who specialise in vehicle rescue and recovery, commented: “We are incredibly proud to be able to support such an amazingly good cause as Midlands Air Ambulance, with these new vehicles out on the road undoubtedly more lives will be saved. We also have a number of additional fund raising activities which the team here at The Mansfield Group have taken upon themselves to hold and raise even more for this great cause.”
The charity’s new RRVs were part-funded by corporate partner, M6toll, and a grant-giving organisation, and have been supported by the following; West Midlands Ambulance Service, BMW Group, Carnation Designs, Design, Woodway Engineering, Wilker Vehicle Conversions, VUE CCTV, Mansfield Group, Body Repair Centre and Tarrafix.