A LIFE-SAVING charity’s vehicle fleet has been upgraded to help its doctors reach emergencies in Warwickshire more quickly.
The Air Ambulance Service (TAAS) has bought two new Skoda Kodiaq vRS SUVs as it celebrates 20 years of saving lives in the county.
The new Critical Care Cars will replace the charity’s old vehicles to continue supporting the missions of the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA), which turns 20 this year.
The new all-wheel-drive vehicles have improved off-road capabilities, helping crews access remote areas.
They have a high ground clearance allowing for safer driving in the snow, large boot space and shelving to accommodate more equipment, and virtual cockpit displays with a large mapping system for improved navigation.
The new blue lighting package has been improved, including a new siren system and differing flash patterns which, research says, are more effective on different road layouts.
The cars carry critical care paramedics and doctors, and equipment such as a defibrillator, cardiac monitor, CPR chest compression devices, ultrasound solution, supplies of blood products, vital medical consumables, and advanced critical care drugs.
WNAA teams tend to use cars rather than aircraft at night when the roads are clearer – and also during the day to attend emergencies that are quicker to reach by road, when aircraft are unavailable due to maintenance, or if the service is affected by very poor weather conditions.
Philip Bridle, Head of Operations at The Air Ambulance Service, said: “It is more imperative than ever that our fleet of Critical Care Cars can meet the demands of the job. The reliability, versatility, and power of the two new Kodiaq models will enable us to continue to respond rapidly to emergencies.
“Thanks to generous public donations and continued support over the last 20 years, WNAA has driven into 2023 with these meticulously chosen, designed, and equipped new cars for its crew’s and patients’ needs.
“On behalf of everyone at TAAS, I’d like to express our gratitude to Frontline Emergency Solutions for converting our new cars and for kindly donating their time – saving our charity vital funds.”
Visit www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk or call 0300 304 5999 for more information, or to support the charity.
