20th Nov 2017
Last week, we were pleased to receive a new portable helicopter landing site lighting system, made possible thanks to funding from the HELP Appeal. The new HEMS-Star portable lighting set costs nearly £9000 and will be an essential resource for our helicopter crews. It is designed for rapid deployment to provide safe and effective marking at designated or ad-hoc helicopter landing sites.
The HELP Appeal provides significant grants to fund life-saving helipads at Major Trauma Centres and key A&E hospitals around England and Scotland. Their funding is not just limited to helipads; since 2009 the Appeal has instigated and driven a number of key projects to help save lives and improve patients’ chances of a full recovery.
The HEMS-Star lighting serves as a quickly deployable asset for night time landing sites. They will prove invaluable for undertaking training at our base at RAF Northolt and to assist us in major incidents that extend into the night. Robert Batram, Chief Executive from the HELP Appeal, said:
“If there is another way that we can help hospitals and air ambulances provide the best trauma care possible, we are delighted to help. This lighting will help LAA dramatically particularly during winter, when there are less daylight hours”
Charles Newitt, COO of London’s Air Ambulance, said:
“We would like to extend a huge thank you to the HELP Appeal for their generosity in providing funding for this essential resource. This lighting system will help us to deploy our services safely should they be required outside of daylight hours, as well as allowing us to provide essential training”.
