DEVON Air Ambulance Trust (DAAT), which is this year celebrating 25 years of service, is the chosen charity for the Westcountry Equine Fair 2017.

The first mission for DAAT was flown in August 1992 and now the charity owns two Eurocopter EC135 helicopters operating seven-days-a-week and responding to approximately 1,400 life-threatening or life changing incidents every year.

In November 2016 DAAT extended its service to operate until midnight, meaning that it can help even more people in Devon.

With one helicopter based in Exeter and one in North Devon it means it is able to get to most of Devon within 10 minutes and the whole of Devon within 15.

This ensures patients receive treatment within the critical period immediately following acute illness or an accident and are conveyed to the specialist treatment centre most appropriate for the patient’s needs, ensuring the person receives the best possible care and giving them the best chance of survival.

It costs £5.5 million every year to keep Devon’s Air Ambulances flying and the charity is extremely proud to be independent of Government and National Lottery Funding; this safeguards the service for the long-term and ensures it can deliver what the people of Devon tell them it wants from the service.

DAAT has also substantially improved patient care through the creation of a ground breaking Master’s Degree for air paramedics aimed at making them amongst the highest qualified in the profession.

Working with Plymouth University, DAA has created a qualification which will put Devon on the map as a centre of excellence for pre-hospital critical care.

Devon’s Air Ambulances are very much an essential part of the community we live in and the service would not be possible without the generous support and donations from the people, businesses and communities in and around Devon, every penny raised making a real difference.

The Westcountry Equine Fair, which will be held at Westpoint, near Exeter on Saturday and Sunday, December 2 and 3, will host a wide selection of educational, competitive and entertaining demonstrations in the indoor arena including Beverley Brightman (dressage rider and trainer); Alexander Bragg, event rider (Sunday); Grant Bazin – The horseman; Junior Show Jumping; a native breed parade and much more.

There will also be the BETA sponsored Equestrian Knowledge Zone where visitors can ask advice from a selection of top experts including equine vet, equine dentist, Lorinery, referral farrier, equine nutritionist, free hat and body protector checks and worming. RoboCob, the mechanical horse, will also be available to "have-a-go" at fine tuning riding skills.

There will be more than 200 trade stands and it is certainly the total equestrian experience for the dedicated rider!

For further details, visit: www.westcountryequinefair.co.uk .

Alan Quick