| Devon's
new angel of the skies |
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| The
new Devon Air Ambulance |
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Each
year, the Devon Air Ambulance takes to the skies on rescue missions
to reach patients and fly them back to hospital. After 12 years, the
old chopper has been replaced by a new one - but it doesn't come cheap! |
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Devon's
brand spanking new air ambulance took to the skies for the first time
in August 2004, replacing the charity's orginal chopper which was
in service for 12 years.
The new EC135 helicopter is bigger and faster than the previous one
and has better facilities for patients.
It has greater fuel consumption and more powerful engines so it can
stay in the air for longer and get to awkward places.
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| Up
in the air! |
The extra
room inside also means that patients can be kept more comfortable.
But
all this comes at a cost, and the Devon Air Ambulance Trust (DAAT)
had to make sure the charity had £1m in reserves before going
ahead with leasing the craft.
Operational costs will also increase - to £1.8 million a year
from next year.
However, the investment is helping the Westcountry Ambulance Service
Trust to reach patients in isolated parts of Devon - such as the coastline
and Dartmoor.
The new helicopter follows three years of hard work and preparation
by DAAT. Lyn Paver, of the trust, travelled to Oxford where the chopper
was kitted out in a hangar.
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| Lyn
Paver |
"Wow
- it's reality now," she said. "My first reaction is that
we finally got there. We've managed it.
"For two or three years now we've been working towards it, and
now we've got there."
The air ambulance is called out dozens of times each year, and can
literally be a life-saver.
The air ambulance trust's fund-raising efforts are non-stop, and relies
on the support of the public.
You can help by visiting the trust's website and clicking onto the
Helping DAAT link.
Article published: August 2004
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BBC Devon
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PL3 5BD
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