AN innovative way has been found to keep emergency teams working for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance stay safe during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The service is protecting patients and crew members by decontaminating crews and equipment with specially-prepared water containing salt and electricity which instantly kills 99.99% of bacteria, fungi and viruses.

A dry `fog' created from electrolysed saline water is released inside a tent into which anything that needs treating is placed. The environmentally-friendly system is non-toxic, non-corrosive and leaves no harmful residues.

Electrolysed water is not new technology. It is used in the food industry and for water treatment.

EHAAT's crews are using the fogging system at the end of every shift, and after every mission.

It is in use at the charity's airbases at North Weald and Earls Colne. Stuart Elms, Clinical Director at EHAAT, said: "I'm delighted that we can add this extra layer of decontamination to our already strong measures of infection prevention and control. We will continue to look for ways to increase the safety of our patients and crews."

As well as its emergency work – which saw the helicopter land in Chadwell St Mary on Friday (29 January) – the air ambulance team have been assisting with the transfer of some COVID-19 patients between hospitals, whilst continuing to respond to the charity's normal workload of medical emergencies, cardiac arrests, road traffic collisions, serious injuries etc.

When required, the team based at the charity's North Weald airbase travel by helicopter or rapid response vehicle (RRV) to the relevant hospital, and accompany the patient in a designated land ambulance to the receiving hospital. The EHAAT team is able to provide the advanced level of care that allows a safe transfer of this group of patients.