A LIFE-SAVING charity is stepping up measures to protect patients from the coronavirus.

Essex and Herts Air Ambulance, which has a base in Earls Colne, is taking additional steps to protect patients and crew members from Covid-19 after adopting a decontamination technique.

The trust is decontaminating crews and equipment with specially-prepared water which instantly kills 99.99 per cent of bacteria, fungi and viruses.

The water is turned in to a ‘fog’ created from electrolysed saline water.

The fog is then released inside a tent, into which anything that needs treating is placed.

The environmentally-friendly system is said to be non-toxic, non-corrosive and leaves no harmful residues.

Electrolysed water is not a new technology and is used in the food industry and for water treatment.

Air ambulance crews are now using the fogging system at the end of every shift, and after every mission at the charity’s airbases at Earls Colne and North Weald.

Clinical director Stuart Elms said: “I’m delighted that we can add this extra layer of decontamination to our already strong measures of infection prevention and control.

“We will continue to look for ways to increase the safety of our patients and crews.”