Our Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs) In addition to our helicopters, we have a fleet of rapid response vehicles. are our Volvo XC90 rapid response vehicles. The Charity funds a fleet of eight Volvo XC90s, some of which have undergone a new livery. The weather in Wales can be unpredictable, and this can sometimes mean our helicopters are grounded. Our fleet of RRVs enables us to transport our critical care teams to a patient via road, ensuring we are still delivering advanced care to a patient when they need it. The RRVs are also used for nearby incidents, where it would be quicker for the crew to travel by car than by helicopter, or incidents when it is not suitable for an aircraft to land. Depending on the location and nature of a mission, and following dispatch information from the team on shift at Critical Care Hub in Cwmbran, the critical care team will identify whether it is best to travel to an incident by air or by car. What equipment do the cars carry? All of our response vehicles carry the same pioneering equipment that you would find on our aircraft, which means the care the patient receives on scene is the same as would regardless of whether a helicopter or car attends. Patients cannot be transferred in the rapid response vehicle, but the crew commonly travel via road ambulance with the patient once they have stabilised the patient on scene. Getting our clinicians to the scene is proven to make a lifesaving difference, and through working with our colleagues in the ambulance services, the patient can then be transported safely to hospital. Special Features The RRVs have an electrical charging plug, used to charge the medical equipment, which automatically releases when the engine is turned on, creating an even quicker and safer start for the critical care team when driving to a mission. The cars also have: Wide boot space for all clinical equipment – bespokely adapted for our teams. Four-wheel drive and good ground clearance for coping with speed bumps, kerbs, off-road terrain and low grip access. High seating position for good visibility. Good performance, ride and handling. Making a difference Approximately, 50% of all callouts we receive are answered with our Rapid Response Vehicles and allow us to provide our service 24/7 across Wales. Even when our helicopters are not able to respond to an incident, our rapid response vehicles assure that we can still deliver the same world-class standard of care to our patients. Keep us Driving Our RRVs give us greater flexibility, so we can reach more people in their time of need. You can help to keep them on the road by making a donation today. Manage Cookie Preferences