Charity info
The 2010 Bristol International Kite Festival is proud to support the Great Western Air Ambulance - www.greatwesternairambulance.com
Great Western Air Ambulance is funded entirely through voluntary donations and needs to raise in excess of £1 million a year to cover the cost of operating seven days a week across Bristol, Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset.
Every week the Great Western Air Ambulance is called out to attend numerous accidents and medical emergencies, bringing rapid and skilled medical attention to those in need. Road traffic accidents and falls are among the most common emergency calls.
Great Western Air Ambulance was established in June 2008 in partnership with Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust. It operates across North Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire. Based at Filton, the service covers an area of approximately 3,000 square kilometres and a resident population of some 2.2 million. When the service began it flew five days a week. This has now been increased to seven days. In its first 12 months of operation, the Air Ambulance flew over 600 missions and this is expected to increase to around 800 missions over the next year.
Today, the helicopter is more like a flying hospital than a traditional air ambulance. The medical model used by Great Western Air Ambulance is one of the most advanced and it is only the fourth helicopter service in the UK that has a senior specialist doctor and a paramedic trained to critical care standard. By carrying the resources of an A&E department and an intensive care unit direct to the scene of an incident, the service is able to achieve a much improved outcome for the patient.
The Golden Hour: Accident and emergency specialists often refer to the ‘Golden Hour’. This is the one hour following a major incident. The ability to provide medical care and treatment during this immediate post accident period can make all the difference when it comes to survival and minimising permanent damage. By delivering first response medical care by air and speeding transport to hospitals the Air Ambulance maximises the opportunity presented by the Golden Hour.
It costs £15 for every minute the Air Ambulance rotor blades turn, so it’s an expensive service but also one which any of us may need at some point in our lives.
Anyone who would like to lend a hand can do so through individual fund raising initiatives or by supporting the recycling scheme - call 0303 4444 999 or email penny.weir@greatwesternairambulance.com
Media enquiries:
Mike Farrington, Golley Slater Public Relations. Tel: 0117 917 5170. M: 07801 649046.
Email mfarrington@golleyslater.co.uk
