HAMPSHIRE & ISLE OF
WIGHT AIR AMBULANCE An Air Ambulance service for the
people of Hampshire and the
Isle of Wight will soon become a
reality.
The helicopter is due to go into
service in the early Spring 2007.
It will provide a vital service to
the community and will be able to
reach any part of the two
counties within 20 minutes. Being
able to do this, will mean that most
patients will receive treatment for
their injuries within the “Golden
Hour”, and this will make the
difference between life and death
for many patients.
The helicopter will be manned
by one pilot, and initially by two
paramedics. Hopefully at a later
stage there will be a doctor on
board. It can carry up to two
patients on stretchers. It will be
used to attend many different
types of emergency, ranging from
road traffic accidents to accidents
in the workplace and sporting | accidents. It will also be used to
transfer patients between
hospitals, when they require
emergency specialist treatment at
another hospital.
The cost of providing this vital
service, is in excess of £65,000
per month. Like most other Air
Ambulance services in the UK,
the service will be entirely funded
by the generosity of the public. SOPHIE’S STORY Sophie Pope, aged 11, felt the
full force of a horses hoof when
her horse, Amber, lashed out
with a hind leg. The metal shod
hoof caught Sophie on the
side of her head, knocking her
unconscious, breaking a bone in
her neck and dislodging several
teeth. The Dorset and Somerset
Air Ambulance was called and
within minutes, Sophie was
airlifted to Southampton General
Hospital where doctors in the
paediatric unit decided to keep her
unconscious for four days.
Sophie made a full recovery and
ten days later was back home in
Burton, Christchurch, awaiting
the all-clear to climb back into the
saddle. Pupils at her local primary
school held a mufti day and
raised £500 for the Air Ambulance
as a thank you for saving their
classmate. |
