Cornwall Air Ambulance flew 958 emergency missions in 2010, a slight fall on the previous year. This follows a small pattern of slightly fewer emergency missions flown over the two previous years, thought to be largely attributable to improved tasking by specialist HEMS dispatchers based in the clinical hub in Exeter. This has resulted in the air ambulances throughout the South West being tasked to far fewer inappropriate jobs when compared with historic activity.

Some details of the types of incidents attended is shown below, but for more detailed nformation and to arrange a talk to your organisation or community group about Cornwall's air ambulance helicopter and the vital part it plays in our community please contact charity headquaters on 01726 890444.

The balance between demand to attend patients with serious medical conditions, and patients with some form of trauma injury remained the same, with medical conditions numbering 530 or 55% of the total air ambulance tasks. This is a typical ratio of medical to trauma incidents occuring in Cornwall for which an air ambulance is requested.

General trauma occuring in the workplace or at home numbered 179 incidents.

There were 139 serious trauma related incidents associated with road traffic collisions attended by the air ambulance.

94 Trauma accidents occuring through participation in sport and leisure activities involved Cornwall's air ambulance.

Significantly falls from heights greater than 6' resulting in potential head neck and spinal injuries as well as other types of injurys, accounted for 44% of all trauma incidents in 2010.

Incidents associated with patients having a potentially life threatening medical condition, worsening or time critical condition were primarily associated with failed heart and breathing, together with other types of condition causing the patient to collapse.

The air ambulance carried out 26 inter hospital transfers in 2010, where patients in hospital on the Isles of Scilly required urgent treatment not available at the island hospital, but available on the mainland at either Treliske or Derriford hospitals.  Some transfers were for patients, including children and adults, who required emergency transfer to specialist paedeatric or burns units at Frenchay near Bristol or even London hospitals.