PARAMEDICS and doctors with an air ambulance service have helped design new flight suits.

The customised uniform and jackets were designed jointly by medics from Yorkshire Air Ambulance and workwear specialists Arco.

The company’s designers worked closely with medics to ensure the suits would meet the need to deliver emergency medical care to trauma patients, often in very difficult conditions. The suits were made to be flame resistant, with extra padding on the knees and purpose-designed pockets for equipment.

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.”