The North West Air Ambulance is a charitable organization that provides airborne and quick-response emergency medical services for more than 7 million Britons in
the 5500 sq. mi. of England’s northwest area. The northwest area is noted for its uneven terrain and remoteness, making the timing of quick-response units especially important for those who need assistance. As one would imagine, the costs associated with flying helicopters out for medical attention is on the hefty side. Since nearly $5.5 million needs to be raised annually to cover the charity’s expenses, a good number of charitable events are held throughout the year. The NWAA receives no government funding in their efforts. This coming weekend on May 24, a Ride 2 Raise motorcycle event will be held by the Blazin Saddles Biker Buddies. In June, there will be four events held: a Charity Quiz Night and Raffle held on June 6, a From Here to the Pier charity fun walk held on June 7, a West Coast MCC Bike Show held on June 14, and the 2009 Aintree Sprint held on June 28. Providing the medical services is an EC 135 T2 helicopter equipped with the latest in medical equipment. A second helicopter was received in late January to undergo equipment refitting to make it worthy as an air ambulance. For those days and nights where flying is not a possibility, a specially-equipped Jeep Grand Cherokee is put into use as an ambulance. The Jeep SUV is equipped with the Quadra-Trac II four-wheel drive system and a 3.0L V-6 CRD with 215 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to tackle off-road conditions to reach where standard ambulances cannot go. Fuel consumption is a key point for the Jeep, as it is able to achieve a mixed rating of 23 mpg. The Grand Cherokee was donated earlier this year by Jeep. On average, the NWAA is called out four times a day, with the number of calls rising to 10 per day in the summer. The cost to scramble a helicopter for a single mission is more than $1500.
Source: Newspress UK