We're delighted to mark the start of Air Ambulance Week 2020 with an open letter written by HRH The Duke of Cambridge to the UKโs 21 air ambulance charities thanking all who work, volunteer & support them in their tireless efforts in helping to save lives every day across the UK
Today marks the start of
#AirAmbulanceWeek
! ๐
Did you know each air ambulance mission across the UK is funded almost entirely by the generosity of local communities.
You can play your part this week by helping us to deliver the message that we canโt save lives without you.
In the hope of inspiring a few other people to get active and take some extra time for their own mental health โ I wanted to share a few of my stories and favourite songs with you in an episode of Time to Walk.
Did you know? ๐
@LDNairamb
crew made history in 1993 by performing the world's first successful pre-hospital open-heart surgery at the roadside.
#Funfact
๐ฅโจ
A new clinical trial begins tomorrow, with air ambulance crews carrying โwhole bloodโ instead of separate red blood cells and plasma for the treatment of severely injured patients at risk of bleeding to death. ๐ฉธ๐ฉธ
โก๏ธ Find out more about the SWIFT Trial
Did you know that air ambulance crews often work closely with the ambulance service, first responders, police, fire & rescue and other emergency services such as HM Coastguard.
๐๐๐โ๏ธ๐ฅ
Wiltshire Air Ambulance is heartbroken to share the news that our much-admired pilot, Rob Collingwood, passed away earlier today following a short battle with cancer, aged 42.
Today is International Women's Day
#IWD2022
Throughout the day we will be celebrating the work of some of the fantastic women that work in air ambulance charities across the UK by sharing their stories!
@KensingtonRoyal
@KensingtonRoyal
thank you for your support in helping to raise awareness of the vital lifesaving work of air ambulance charities right across the UK.
Meet Sophie...
Dr Sophie Mitchinson was born in Dover & currently lives in London. Sophie wanted to be a Dr from age 7, & she fulfilled her dream when she qualified in 2009.
She trained across London in Emergency Medicine & is now a HEMS Doctor with
@airambulancekss
#IWD2022
๐ฅ Congratulations Ian Mew from
@dsairambulance
๐ซ For winning Doctor of the Year at the
#AAUKAWARDS
who has been instrumental in transforming care provided to the injured in the South West region whilst contributing to the development of injury prevention campaigns!
Air Ambulances UK is deeply saddened by the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. HRH was a patron & great supporter of many charities including air ambulances. Our condolences go to Her Majesty The Queen & the Royal Family during this difficult time.
Air ambulance Critical Care Team doctors and paramedics are among some of the most highly skilled pre-hospital medics in the world. They are capable of performing lifesaving hospital-level procedures on patients at the scene in order to save lives. ๐
Thank you for supporting
#AirAmbulanceWeek2022
and highlighting the lifesaving work of air ambulance charities across the UK. ๐
Find out more about how you can support and get involved with
#AAW22
! ๐
Did you know that 80% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in the home. Learning CPR could be the most important lesson you ever learn.
Learn the steps of CPR in 15 minutes
๐ Dr. Jake Turner from
@WNDLRAirAmb
has won the Doctor of the Year award, sponsored by
@Leonardo_live
!
๐จโโ๏ธ His dedication & efforts in building strong relationships between TAAS & the Major Trauma Centre highlight his commitment to excellence in healthcare.
#AAUKAWARDS
There are 2โฃ1โฃ individual air ambulance charities in the UK. Each act decisively to assess and assemble advanced lifesaving equipment to provide pre-hospital treatment and care. ๐
๐จ If the unthinkable happens air ambulances can be at the scene of an incident within minutes.
A helicopter can only get the crew so close to patients. Sometimes the crew need to walk a distance from the helicopter to the incident, with a range of heavy kit!
If you're driving by, you can kindly offer your local crew a lift if you notice them heading to an incident. ๐ ๐
We are delighted to announce Lynsey Grant as London's Air Ambulance's Lead Paramedic for the next three years.
With over 20 years' experience in the industry, and a year as Acting Lead Paramedic, Lynsey brings a wealth of experience to the role.
Huge congratulations, Lynsey.
๐ฅ Congratulations Lee Hilton from
@DevonAirAmb
๐ซ For winning Critical Care Practitioner of the Year at the
#AAUKAWARDS
for demonstrating excellent clinical standards and delivering the best possible quality of care to patients. A true inspiration to all!
We hope everyone had a magical Christmas! This December has certainly been a cold one! โ๏ธ
We wanted to give a huge shout-out to all of the UK's air ambulances and all of the other vital emergency services who work endlessly to keep us safe always! ๐
๐ Critical Care Practitioner of the Year sponsored by Zoll goes to Matt Sawyer from
@dsairambulance
๐
๐ Matt's pioneering ultrasound use, pre-hospital care advancements, and patient advocacy highlight his unwavering dedication to patient care.
๐จโโ๏ธ๐
#AAUKAWARDS
๐ฅ Congratulations Nigel Hare from
@DevonAirAmb
For winning Lifetime Achievement at the
#AAUKAWARDS
for the 25 years of service within the Air Ambulance Helicopter Emergency Medical Services community. Nigel is one of the longest-serving paramedics within the UK! ๐ซ
Anyone, anywhere in the UK can become a patient at anytime. Air ambulance charities across the UK are collectively dispatched to over 107 daily missions. Thank you to the highly skilled pilots, doctors, paramedics and dispatchers who work tirelessly to keep us safe. ๐
From all of the team at Air Ambulances UK we would like to wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! ๐ โ๏ธ
Today, as always, we share our thanks to the UK's air ambulance crews who will be ready to provide treatment and care to those in need. ๐
๐ If the unthinkable happens air ambulance crews can be at the scene of an incident within minutes. On arrival they deliver pre-hospital care by stabilising and transferring patients to specialist Emergency Departments. โ๏ธโ๏ธ
โ ๏ธ If you spot a helicopter trying to land remember to keep well clear. Move as far away as possible and do not approach the direction of the helicopter until the blades have stopped turning and the pilot has left the aircraft - helicopters create a powerful down wash. ๐ ๐ฌ๏ธ
โญ๏ธCongratulationsโญ๏ธ
To Liam Sagi, named
@BMWGroup
Critical Care Practitioner of the Year at the
#AAUKAwards
for being an exceptional
@EastAngliAirAmb
team member and for his vital role in helping to save the life of his colleague Dr Trish Mills who was hit by a van when off duty.
๐ Wales
@air_ambulance
wins Special Incident of the Year sponsored by Aeroptimo!
๐ Amid severe weather, they responded to an unexpected home birth of premature twins. Their heroic interventions, led to one twin's miraculous survival.
#AAUKAWARDS
AAUK are delighted to have successfully lobbied the government for inclusion of air ambulance emergency first responders in the allocation of Platinum Jubilee Medals. ๐ ๐
Read the full update which includes a statement from our CEO
@SimmyAkhtar
: ๐
Taking to the skies in 1987,
@cornwallairamb
was the first air ambulance charity in the UK. ๐
Did you know who the first operational UK air ambulance charity was? ๐
If the unthinkable happens air ambulance crews can be at the scene of an incident within minutes. On arrival they deliver pre-hospital care by stabilising and transferring patients to specialist Emergency Departments. ๐
Did you know that air ambulance crews often work closely with the ambulance service, first responders, police, fire & rescue and other emergency services such as HM Coastguard. ๐ ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๏ธ
Julia Barnes
@ScotAirAmb
HEMS Paramedic
"Now I realize that Iโm not just as good as the guys, Iโm a paramedic in my own right.
All girls should be encouraged to dream big and make those dreams happen"
#IWD2020
#FeminPhem
From all of the team at
@AirAmbulancesUK
we would like to wish you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! ๐ โ๏ธ
Today, as always, we share our thanks to the UK's air ambulance crews who will be ready to provide treatment and care to those in need. ๐ ๐
Did you know that there are 2โฃ1โฃ individual air ambulance charities in the UK โ๏ธ
๐จ On average an air ambulance can reach someone in urgent need within 15 minutes, where they can perform lifesaving surgery on the most critically injured. ๐
๐ฅ Congratulations Sarita Taneja from
@airambulancekss
๐ซ For winning Charity Staff Member of the Year at the
#AAUKAWARDS
for going above and beyond to provide the best possible care and dedication to every single person. An overall outstanding contribution!
A fantastic visit today at
@LNAACT
. Great conversations and so much shared learning for all. Topped off by a wonderful tour of the facilities, including a sneak peek at the Critical Car Cars & Helicopter! ๐
Thank you
@LNAACT
๐
๐ฅ Congratulations
@cornwallairamb
๐ซ For winning Special Incident of the Year at the
#AAUKAWARDS
. Lisa Ball and Pete Storer via Helimed01 saved a 22-year-oldโs life despite suffering a seizure and falling 100ft over a cliff amongst deteriorating weather conditions.
A helicopter can only get aircrews so close to patients. Sometimes the crew must walk a distance from the helicopter to the incident, with a range of heavy kit!
If you're driving by, you can kindly offer your local crew a lift if you notice them heading to an incident. ๐ ๐
โ Did you know that air ambulance crews often work closely with the ambulance service, first responders, police, fire & rescue and other emergency services such as HM Coastguard.
๐๐๐โ๏ธ๐ฅ๏ธ
The average helicopter mission cost is ยฃ3,962. ๐
Although the cost does vary depending on geography, patient need, clinical and operational models of the local air ambulance charity.
Did you know that in order for an
#airambulance
to avoid most hazards like trees, buildings and power lines air ambulances often cruise at around 1000ft above ground level โ๏ธ
The average helicopter mission cost is ยฃ3,962. But the cost does vary depending on geography, patient need, clinical and operational models of the local air ambulance charity. ๐
Anyone, anywhere in the UK can become a patient at any time. Air ambulance charities are collectively dispatched to over 1โฃ0โฃ0โฃ lifesaving missions each day across the UK.
Each mission is funded almost entirely by the generosity of local communities.
Air ambulance Critical Care Team doctors, paramedics and nurses are among some of the most highly skilled pre-hospital medics in the world. They are capable of performing lifesaving hospital-level procedures on patients at the scene in order to save lives. ๐ โค๏ธ
๐ฅ Congratulations Ellie Smyth, named Young Person of the Year at the
#AAUKAWARDS
for setting up a gala ball and raising ยฃ16,000 for
@AirAmbulanceNI
funding almost 3 days of service and likely to help 6 future patients โ what an impact at just 11 years old! ๐ซ
๐ ๐ Did you know that between 24 December 2021 & 1 January 2022 air ambulances across the UK collectively attended over 7โฃ5โฃ0โฃ missions!
Spare a thought for the air ambulance crews who will be working 24/7 over the festive period, including on Christmas Day. โค๏ธ ๐
๐ฅ Congratulations
@DevonAirAmb
โs Community Landing Site Team
๐ซ For winning Charity Team of the Year at the
#AAUKAWARDS
for providing outstanding clinical and operational support, by keeping the aircrew safe whilst helping patients receive time-critical care.
โถ๏ธ
@EHAAT_
's mission is to create world-leading community standards for pre-hospital care through their research, innovation and education. This ensures they achieve the best possible outcomes for people in Essex, Hertfordshire, and surrounding areas.
#TakeoverTuesday
๐
Anyone, anywhere in the UK can become a patient at anytime. On average an air ambulance can reach someone in urgent need within 15 minutes. ๐
Each mission is funded almost entirely by the generosity of local communities. ๐
๐ Pete Appleby from
@dsairambulance
is Highly Commended in the Critical Care Practitioner of the Year
#AAUKAWARDS
for taking on a multitude of projects to enhance
@dsairambulance
operations. Pete is described as a superb practitioner and an extraordinary patient advocate. ๐
There are 21 individual air ambulance charities across the UK. We've made it easy for you to find out more about who each of the air ambulance charities across the UK are. ๐
โฉ Check out our featured map to identify your nearest charity
Being able to accurately give your location could save precious time and potentially lives so be prepared and download the free
@what3words
app. โฌ
Download the free app here:
When a helicopter is dispatched on a mission, within the aircraft you'll often find a highly skilled pilot, pre-hospital emergency medicine doctors and specialist paramedics. Plus a range of lifesaving medical equipment.
Effectively bringing the hospital to the patient. ๐
๐ก Today we will be shining a light on
#InternationalWomensDay
by sharing some of the many outstanding female achievements across different UK air ambulance charities.
A huge thank you to all the amazing women in the air ambulance sector who help to save lives across the UK. ๐
Air ambulances are equipped with advanced technology and medications which means that the crew are able to provide the same level of care that you would expect from a hospital emergency department, when time is of the essence. ๐ ๐
๐ฅ Congratulations Vicki Brown from
@GWAAC
๐ซ For winning Breaking Barriers at the
#AAUKAWARDS
for working tirelessly to promote and practice quality critical care. Every day Vicki works to achieve something meaningful for the good of others!
๐ Trustee of the Year, sponsored by Round Table GB and Ireland, goes to Chair of
@airambulancekss
, Barney Burgess ๐
Barney's journey from patient to Chair highlights his outstanding governance, empathetic leadership, and his drive for innovation.
๐๐
#AAUKAWARDS
Specially equipped Critical Care Cars can provide critical care both day and night, enabling crews to reach more patients in urgent need. The same level of lifesaving medical care is provided at the scene, whether by air or by road. ๐ ๐
๐๐ฉโโ๏ธ Ever heard of HEMS?
Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) doctors and paramedics are the extraordinary individuals who play a vital role in air ambulance critical care teams!
Their expertise and rapid response are instrumental in saving lives every day. ๐๐
#BadmintonHorseTrials
is ever so close! Did you know that
@bhorsetrials
has chosen us as its 2023 Charity of the Year? ๐ ๐
Itโs such an amazing opportunity to showcase the lifesaving work of the UK's air ambulances.
Who is excited?
We hope you all had a lovely Christmas. Itโs certainly been a cold one this December! ๐จ๏ธ
We just wanted to give a huge shout-out to all of the UK's air ambulances and all of the other vital emergency services who work endlessly to keep us safe always!
๐ ๐ซถ ๐
Anyone, anywhere in the UK can become a patient at anytime. Air ambulance charities across the UK are collectively dispatched to over 100 daily missions.
Thank you to the highly skilled pilots, doctors, paramedics and dispatchers who work tirelessly to keep us safe. ๐
The speed and reach of the aircraft combined with advanced clinical equipment, crew skills and expertise and specialist drugs mean patients receive advanced lifesaving care before they reach the hospital, saving vital time and lives. ๐
Did you know that air ambulance charities sometimes work together, coming to the aid of those in need? ๐
It's not uncommon for multiple charities to be called out to the same site, and these incredible charities collaborate to save lives.
๐คโค๏ธ
#AirAmbulance
#Collaboration
Air ambulance crews bring the Emergency Department to patients who have suffered a life threatening or life changing trauma or medical emergency; providing advanced critical care to save lives. ๐
๐ธ ๐ซฑ
@air_ambulance
About 32% of air ambulance missions are to people who experience a sudden medical emergency such as a cardiac arrest. ๐บ ๐ป
In 2021 air ambulances across the UK collectively attended 6,070 cardiac-related incidents. ๐
Air ambulance charities rely heavily on charitable donations to keep the medical team in the air. Each mission is funded almost entirely by the generosity of local communities. ๐
The UK's air ambulances play a vital role to provide specialist critical care to save lives. โค๏ธ
Specially equipped Critical Care Cars and Rapid Response Vehicles can provide critical care both day and night. Crews provide the same lifesaving medical interventions at the scene, whether by air or by road. ๐ ๐
๐ Our Special Recognition Award honours the memory of Rob Collingwood.
๐ Rob, who tragically passed away from cancer at just 42, was an invaluable member of
@WiltsAirAmbu
team. His unwavering dedication persisted through personal challenges, embodying profound selflessness.
โญ๏ธCongratulationsโญ๏ธ
To Bill Sivewright, CEO of
@dsairambulance
who received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the
#AAUKAwards
for his extraordinary leadership of Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and wider contribution to the air ambulance community across the UK.
@BMWGroup
Save the date! ๐๏ธ
A brand new series of
#EmergencyHelicopterMedics
starts this Sunday 22 May, 9pm on
@Channel4
's
#More4
. ๐บ
The programme follows the air ambulances' dedicated critical care crews on their lifesaving missions.
๐ฉธ๐ฉธ Did you know a new clinical trial has started, which will see air ambulance crews carry 'whole blood' instead of separate red blood cells and plasma for the treatment of severely injured patients at risk of bleeding to death.
The AAUK Parliamentary Reception
@HouseofCommons
earlier this week was a huge success! ๐
With over 7โฃ0โฃ members of parliament attending the event to discuss key issues and raise awareness around the lifesaving work of the UK air ambulance charities
The air ambulance community is proud to serve alongside the UK's other emergency services on Emergency Services Day
#999Day
and every day. We pay tribute to the courageous people across all emergency services who work tirelessly to keep us safe and save lives
#AirAmbulanceWeek
โญ๏ธCongratulations โญ๏ธ
To the highly skilled Dr Phil Hyde from
@dsairambulance
who's been named Doctor of the Year at the
#AAUKAwards
for his outstanding work in enabling the Charity to undertake critical paediatric transfers among other great achievements!
@BMWGroup
Did you know that UK air ambulance charities are collectively dispatched to over 1โฃ0โฃ0โฃ missions each day across the UK - thatโs over 36,000 a year.
As the national charity, we support the lifesaving work of the UK's air ambulances. Learn more
If the unthinkable happens air ambulance crews can be at the scene of an incident within minutes. On arrival they deliver pre-hospital care by stabilising and transferring patients to specialist Emergency Departments. ๐
๐ฌ๏ธ If you spot a helicopter trying to land remember to keep well clear. Move as far away as possible and do not approach the direction of the helicopter until the blades have stopped turning and the pilot has left the aircraft - helicopters create a powerful down wash. ๐
If you spot a helicopter trying to land remember to keep well clear. Move as far away as possible and do not approach the direction of the helicopter until the blades have stopped turning and the pilot has left the aircraft - helicopters create a powerful down wash. ๐ฌ๏ธ ๐
Are you familiar with your local air ambulance charity? You can use our air ambulance charity locator map to help find out where your nearest air ambulance is based. ๐
Learn more about each of the 21 UK air ambulance charities by visiting
There are 2โฃ1โฃ individual air ambulance charities across the UK. ๐
We've made it easy for you to find out more about who each of the air ambulance charities across the UK are. Use our featured map to identify your nearest charity
A significant moment in our 21-year history as a
#Charity
. We are delighted to announce an
#Outstanding
rating from the
@CareQualityComm
, becoming the first
#AirAmbulance
in the country to receive the highest available grade. Read more at
Air Ambulances UK is deeply saddened by the news that Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II has passed away. The Queen was a great supporter of the air ambulance community. Our condolences go to the Royal Family during this difficult time.
The perfect sized path for a helicopter to land on!
Did you know, the smallest landing site we can land in is 25m x 25m which is twice the size of the helicopter ๐
Find out more about our fleet -
#ViewFromTheCrew
๐ธ Pilot Gary
๐ฅ Congratulations
@DevonAirAmb
๐ซ For winning Campaign of the Year at the
#AAUKAWARDS
because of their hugely successful โHelp with all your Heartโ campaign which educated the public in Devon about cardiac arrest and the importance of early bystander intervention!
๐ Can you guess the purpose of this specialised equipment?
Air Ambulances weigh nearly three tonnes and lack wheels.
This equipment plays a vital role in safely transporting the aircraft between the helipad and the hangar at the beginning and end of each shift.
There are 21 individual air ambulance charities across the UK. ๐
We've made it easy for you to find out more about who each of the air ambulance charities are.
Click here to find out more:
Have you ever wondered what it takes to become a Specialist Paramedic in Critical Care? ๐
@GWAAC
have written an insightful article on what it takes to qualify as a Specialist Paramedic in Critical Care, as well as the required training and development.
It's
#worldhelicopterday
today ๐
Today we're thanking all those who spend their days saving lives and coming to the aid of those in need.
Every day across the UK air ambulance charities collectively undertake around 102 lifesaving missions, that's over 37,000 a year.
๐ Did you know that UK air ambulance charities are collectively dispatched to an average of 102 missions each day across the UK - thatโs over 36,000 a year. โ๏ธโ๏ธ