Compass CHC is delighted to support Devon Air Ambulance Trust’s ‘Night Flying Campaign’ with a donation of £1000 towards a ‘community landing site’ in Braunton, North Devon.
The campaign aims to help Devon Air Ambulance (DAA) extend its flying operations into the evenings meaning it can assist more patients in distress. The DAA has the ambition of one day being able to run a 24-hour service but to achieve this goal, the DAA need to create a network of ‘community landing sites’ which will enable the charity to bring a life-saving service into the heart of communities during the night. These sites are pre-surveyed floodlit landing sites which are part-funded and managed by local communities.
Braunton resident Tim Davies, Managing Director of Compass CHC said “when I was asked if I would support the Devon Air Ambulance’s campaign to build a helicopter landing site in Braunton, I obviously said yes. The ability for our local community to have vital air ambulance assistance at night and during the dark winter evenings is something which I feel can only be of benefit to the community of Braunton. No one wants to be taken ill, but at least by creating this floodlit landing site, should the unthinkable happen, a potentially life-saving helicopter will be able to attend within minutes. I am very pleased Compass CHC is able to support in this small way.”
The Devon Air Ambulance Trust (in conjunction with Braunton Parish Council and local resident Patrick Farrelly of Braunton Caen Rotary Club) have identified the Recreation Ground in Braunton as a suitable landing site and the local community now needs to raise £3,022.32 to part fund the creation of this site
The total cost to install lighting and the associated electrical work is £6,47019. The DAA are providing a grant of £3,447.89 to cover the installation costs with the community being asked to raise the remaining amount to purchase the lighting equipment.
Floodlighting is an essential component of a community landing site for both safety and practical reasons – it will help illuminate the site during landing and take-off and will help paramedics when loading a patient into the aircraft and during transfer between a land and air ambulance.
The £1000 donation by Compass CHC has helped to reduce the amount the Braunton community need to raise although the Braunton Caen Rotary Club would still like to hear from other businesses or individuals who may be able to help the charity reach its target. For further information contact Patrick Farrelly on 01271 816150 or donations can be made via a crowdfunding page on Just Giving
Author: Tim Davies LLB
