Medics model new flight suits

Paramedics and doctors at Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) in the UK have worked with a manufacturer to design new flight suits. The customised salopettes and jackets have been produced by Arco, the Hull-based provider of workwear, personal protective equipment and workplace safety products. The company’s designers worked closely with YAA medics to ensure the new suits meet the need to deliver emergency medical care to trauma patients – often in very difficult conditions.

YAA paramedic John Baxter said: “The suits are lighter while still providing all the protection we need to be able to do our job safely and effectively. It has been a very good process. We went to see the designers at Arco, and they have been out to our Air Support Unit to see at first hand the demands placed on the suits. As well as being flame and tear resistant, they have micro-bacterial layers to ensure that any blood and other body fluids can’t penetrate. The knees have extra padding and the suits feature lots of pockets purpose-designed to fit what we need to carry.”

Arco, which has a branch in Stockton, is a major sponsor of YAA and supports the life-saving charity by providing advice and guidance on personal protective equipment. Richard Sansom, product and procurement manager of hazardwear at Arco, said: “Our core purpose is to keep people safe at work and we’ve used our expertise in safety product design and development to produce these suits to meet the exact needs of the YAA team. They are often working in extreme conditions, helping to save lives, and need to be able to rely on their uniforms and equipment to protect them as they carry out their demanding jobs.”

Credit: YAA