With missions rising every year, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) has for the very first time had to launch a Christmas appeal in order to continue its life-saving work.

Throughout the month of December, DSAA is asking the public to support their vital work by donating to their cause, enabling them to be there for patients, today, tomorrow and in the future.

The life-saving charity provides pre-hospital critical care to patients in need, 365 days per year.

The enhanced skills of their team, specialist equipment and drugs that they carry, along with the speed of their response, can make the difference between life and death.

Last year was the charity’s busiest year on record. Over the past five years, the number of missions the crew have been tasked to has more than doubled from 1,112 incidents in 2017, to 2,424 incidents in 2022. Behind every number is a real person going through perhaps the most traumatic event of their lives and the charity’s crew does everything in their power to give them the best chance of survival.

Each year, it costs £10M to keep DSAA’s helicopter, cars and specialist crew operational for 19 hours every day, 365 days a year. With the number of missions increasing every year and operational costs rising, the charity needs support now, more than ever.

Laura Bland, critical care doctor at Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance said: “Emergencies don’t stop at Christmas and neither do we. The continued generosity of people across Dorset and Somerset means that we have the very best equipment and training to ensure we are there for patients when they need us most. To be able to help critically ill and injured patients across the local community by bringing the hospital to them in remote locations, in their homes, or by the roadside is an incredible privilege, and that is only achievable with the help of our amazing supporters.

“Each life-saving mission that our crew are tasked to costs approximately £3,500. With no direct funding from the Government or the National Lottery, we rely on the generosity of the public to fund every mission we undertake.

“Whilst many will be spending time with their families and loved ones over the festive period, sadly, there will be some whose lives will be turned upside down due to severe illness or injury.

With your continued support, our team of highly skilled pilots, critical care practitioners and doctors will be ready to answer the call and be there for those who need us the most.”

To make a donation of your choice to DSAA’s Christmas Appeal, call: 01823 669604 or visit: http://www.dsairambulance.org.uk/christmasappeal