Paramedic Colin Clark demonstrates the use of bubble-wrap

Stricken walkers and climbers airlifted from hills will be well protected thanks to a new technique adopted by air ambulance crews.

The Great North Air Ambulance, whose helicopters are often in action in the Lake District and northern Pennines, is using bubble-wrap to insulate seriously ill patients.

The vital Christmas wrapping is donated to the charity by a company in Spennymoor to help save lives of casualties. The technique was originally used in war zones.

The charity now uses the bubble-wrap alongside more sophisticated equipment on its aircraft.

Lead paramedic at GNAAS Jane Peacock said the material is vital in keeping patients’ body temperatures at a stable level on their critical journey to hospital.

She said: “We have military doctors who have seen the benefits of bubble-wrap used in Afghanistan, so we decided to utilise it here. When a patient is cold and seriously injured the quicker they get warm the better.

“Traumatised patients lose their body heat rapidly and bubble wrap provides the most effective means of preserving body heat. It is simply invaluable.

“Believe it or not, bubble-wrap can be quite expensive when bought for medical use. We are getting the same material for free, so we are hugely grateful.”

The bubble-wrap is donated by Taylor Packaging, which supplies the air ambulances with spools of the material whenever their supplies run low.

Owner Steven Taylor said: “We wanted to help the local area. The air ambulance saves lives and we’re happy to assist them in doing that.”