THE Midlands Air Ambulance has unveiled new life-saving medical equipment to aid clinicians on scene at an emergency across the Midlands.

New bespoke bags colour-coded for quick access to kit and medicines are now being used at on the service’s three air ambulance helicopters, airbase rapid response vehicles and two critical care cars in the Black Country.

The kit, which is also being used in Birmingham and Worcester, cost £22,000 and was funded thanks by a generous grant from the HELP appeal.

The new bags will be used by flight doctors and paramedics and members of the ambulance service to deliver specialist pre-hospital emergency care.

Ian Roberts, air operations manager for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, stated: “Previously the kit bags were bulky and cumbersome. Plus, due to wear and tear would only last up to six months before needing to be replaced. They were also difficult to fix into place in the helicopters, so a solution was required.

“The new streamlined bags are being used up to ten times a day and are proving to further aid the delivery of advanced urgent medical care to patients due to the easy access pouches for medicines and equipment.”

Robert Bertram, chief executive of the HELP Appeal, said: “The HELP Appeal is about saving time wherever possible, whether that is funding lifesaving hospital helipads all over the country or funding kit bags which allow doctors to have much quicker access to lifesaving medicine and kit. If we can shave vital minutes off the time it takes to treat a critically ill patient, this could help to save their life.”

The HELP Appeal depends solely on charitable donations and does not receive any Government funding or money from the National Lottery