Taking the Scenic Route
The Air Ambulance Service
This is the charity I have chosen to support. The Air Ambulance Service flies two local air ambulances, one of which serves the counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland. They receive no government funding. The service was initially launched in 2003 covering just Warwickshire and Northamptonshire, before expansion in 2008 enabling them to fly patients over 5 counties. Both helicopters provide a rapid response to trauma and medical emergencies over an area of 3,850 square miles covering many of the UK’s major road networks including the M1, M6, M69 and M42.
With an average response time of just 13 minutes, the two aircraft between them fly on average 6 missions a day between the hours of 7am – 5pm. The crew includes a pilot, a critical care paramedic and usually a consultant doctor. Critical Care Cars then work throughout the night attending medical emergencies within their regions creating a service that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Both the night car and the helicopter have exactly the same dispatch criteria – attending only the most serious incidents, where life or limb might be at risk. Both carry the same equipment – a defibrillator /cardiac warning monitor, CPR machine and kit bags containing medical consumables and advanced drugs.
Every launch is important, and cost is not part of the launch criteria. However, without public support the service could not carry out its mission. Support them now, because you never know when a life may depend on it. You can donate in two ways: through my Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/simply-lynn
or directly to the Air Ambulance Service by visiting their website: www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk
Registered Charity No. 1098874
Thank you!