Douglas Stafford helps Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance charity fly high!

Each year, Douglas Stafford’s employees choose a local charity they wish to support for the year. In 2012 they nominated Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA).

The service provided by HIOWAA became operational on 1 July 2007, which means that the charity will celebrate its 5th birthday this year. In this period, it has already performed more than 3400 missions!

The Charity has two permanent pilots, ten paramedics and currently eight volunteer doctors who make up the crews and leases a EuroCopter EC135. It provides a vital service, flying seven days a week out of its base at Thruxton, near Andover. Yet, it receives no government funding and relies upon the generosity of the people and companies of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to keep the Air Ambulance flying.

The helicopter and its 3-person crew can travel at an average speed of 140 mph. From receiving a call, the helicopter can be airborne within four minutes.  It can reach anywhere in Hampshire within 15 minutes, and the Isle of Wight within 20. Once the patient is on board they can be transferred to the most appropriate hospital within 10 minutes, falling well within the Golden Hour which is so crucial for emergency treatments.

“We are very happy to support Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance,” says Douglas Stafford’s CEO Nigel Cook, “a very worthwhile charity which provides an efficient and prompt response to road traffic collisions, sporting accidents and many other incidents for people in Hampshire and on the island.

“Our team raises money throughout the year thanks to sponsorship and participation to team events such as the annual dragon boat race here at Lakeside, or by organising raffles. We also have monthly ‘dress down’ days, when everyone wishing to leave their business attire behind for the day will contribute.

“Everyone at Douglas Stafford wishes to help HIOWAA make this anniversary year a great fundraising success,” concludes Nigel.

“I am looking forward to working with Douglas Stafford during this exciting year for our charity,” says Sherie Williams Ellen, HIOWAA Charity Manager.

For more information on Douglas Stafford, one of the leading performance specialists in the UK, call us on 0800 7831913 or go to www.douglasstafford.com.

For more information and to support Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, go to www.hiow-airambulance.org.uk.