On Wednesday 1st July 2020, local charity Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) will mark 13 years of delivering life-saving treatment to the most critically ill and severely injured patients across the region in their hour of need.

Since the life-saving Charity first began operations on 1^st July 2007, the Air Ambulance has been tasked to over 9,439 missions across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. When the Charity introduced its first Emergency Response Vehicle in 2017, mission numbers doubled, leading to the decision to bolster the fleet with an additional two vehicles early last year. These vehicles carry the same equipment as the Air Ambulance, such as blood and plasma transfusion kits, defibrillators and monitors that can record ECG’s, blood pressure, oxygen saturation and carbon dioxide levels. The Charity’s Critical Care Teams now respond to an average of six emergencies, both in the air and on the road, every day.

In keeping with their commitment to remain on the cutting edge of pre-hospital emergency care, the use of innovative technology and a successful collaboration with the Maritime Coastguard Agency and the Royal Air Force, HIOWAA has been able to remain operational throughout the current pandemic. In addition, the Charity’s Specialist Critical Care Paramedics have been utilising their specialist skills in the Emergency Department at University Hospital Southampton, to assist in the front-line battle against Coronavirus.

HIOWAA Chief Executive, Alex Lochrane comments ‘The Air Ambulance belongs to, and is funded by, our local community and we have never needed their support as much as we do now. Without the support, dedication and passion they have shown us for the past 13 years, we simply would not have been able to develop our service to be there for those who need us most. From operational milestones to seeing the smiling faces of our wonderful volunteers, I am immensely proud of everything we have achieved.’

Alex adds: ‘To every single person who has continued flying the HIOWAA flag and supporting us through these difficult times, and for the past 13 years, thank you.’