The country's first charity air ambulance, which is expected to respond to up to 500 calls per year, recently arrived in Kerry.

The Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) arrived at Kerry Airport from Wales on Setember 21. It will begin operating full-time daylight hours next month, bringing the population of a 10,000 square mile area within 20 minutes of critical medical care.

The service is being run by Irish Community Rapid Response (ICRR), a charity dedicated to pre-hospital care, in co-operation with the HSE National Ambulance Service.

It will receive calls via the National Ambulance Service 999/112 call system, and is supported by the HSE and Department of Health.

While the helicopter will be based in Cork, it will be available for missions nationwide, and will co-ordinate with the existing Athlone-based Emergency Aeromedical Service.

The service will cost €2 million to run per year and it will be funded through donations. Over the coming weeks, the helicopter will be touring communities to help raise awareness about the service and support fundraising.

ICRR chief executive, John Kearney, noted that since 2008, the charity has developed a network of over 200 land-based volunteer doctors nationwide who deliver essential medical interventions in order to prevent serious injury or death. The charity also has 10 rapid response vehicles in operation.

"We are now taking to the air and will mirror successful international models. The air service will include medical crew on board and rapid transport to a critical care facility.

"It is hoped that €2million can be raised per annum. The helicopter fuel costs €350 per hour, or roughly €5 per minute. For the next month we will be spreading the word about ICRR's Fuel For Life Campaign and will be doing a tour of communities. We would greatly appreciate all the support we can get," Mr Kearney said.

Examples of incidents which the air ambulance is expected to respond to include:
-The airlift of seriously ill patients from remote and rural areas to specialist hospital care
-The medical treatment of things such as stroke and anaphylaxis
-The treatment of trauma injuries from road traffic accidents, agricultural accidents and falls.

For more information on the ICRR, click here