The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance is currently turning its second helicopter into a mobile intensive care unit to improve emergency response times across Poole, Dorset. The aircraft is undergoing work at Gloucestershire Airport to install specialized equipment that will allow medical teams to treat patients more effectively at the scene of an accident.
Inside the cabin, the team is installing a Zoll X-series patient monitor. This device provides live feedback on a patient’s breathing and allows the crew to share medical data with hospital specialists while they are still in the air.
Technical upgrades to the helicopter’s engines and tail mean it can fly with a full load of fuel, crew, and patients even during extreme summer heat. These changes are designed to keep the service running reliably when temperatures rise above 30 degrees Celsius.
The aircraft is expected to begin its life-saving missions in Summer 2026. This addition will help the charity move toward its goal of flying 24 hours a day and ensures that a backup helicopter is always ready if the main one needs repairs.
The 2ndHeli Appeal is currently raising the final funds needed for the project, with more than £350,000 collected toward a £1 million target. These donations pay for the helicopter and the advanced medical gear that makes it a flying intensive care unit.
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