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Air Ambulances UK

Rav Wilding presents an appeal on behalf of Air Ambulances UK, a national organisation supporting the life-saving work of the UK's 21 air ambulance charities.

9 minutes

Last on

Fri 20 Sep 2024 12:50

Air Ambulances UK

Air Ambulances UK

Air Ambulances UK (AAUK) is the national charity supporting the lifesaving work of the UK’s air ambulance charities, enabling them to save even more lives every day. 

Anyone, anywhere in the UK can become a patient at anytime.  No-one ever wakes up expecting to need an air ambulance, but they are there when the unthinkable happens. People like David, Riley, and Jane who needed the lifesaving skills of their local air ambulance.

The skills and expertise of the crews combined with innovative equipment and specialist drugs means that air ambulance crews essentially bring the Emergency Department to patients who have suffered life-threatening or life-changing injuries or illnesses. From blood transfusions to emergency anaesthesia air ambulance crews can deliver specialist care at the scene of an incident to save lives and improve patient outcomes, keeping families and loved ones together. 

Air ambulance charities are collectively dispatched to over 126 lifesaving missions each day across the UK and on average an air ambulance can reach someone in urgent need within 16 minutes. Each mission is funded almost entirely by the generosity of local communities. Your support makes a lifesaving difference. 

Become a supporter today and help save lives tomorrow!

Rav Wilding

Rav Wilding

Hello, I’m Rav Wilding, and I’m thrilled to support Air Ambulances UK in this vital appeal. I’ve had the privilege of seeing the lifesaving work of air ambulance crews up close during my time on Helicopter Heroes, and their level of care never ceases to amaze me. They bring the hospital to patients, delivering advanced care at the scene of accidents and emergencies—something that can mean the difference between life and death.

Air ambulance charities across the UK respond to over 126 missions each day, and they rely almost entirely on public donations to keep flying. Your generosity can help ensure that they’re there when the worst happens—just like they were for people like Riley, Jane and David. Together, we can support these incredible crews and help save even more lives. Please become a supporter today and help save lives tomorrow!

Riley

Riley

Nicolle from Aberdeenshire feared for her son Riley’s life after he accidentally swallowed a £2 coin last summer. The coin lodged in Riley's throat, obstructing his breathing. After several failed attempts to help him, Nicolle called 999, and the situation quickly escalated. A crew from the Scottish Ambulance Service arrived but determined that Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) was needed due to the severity of Riley’s condition.  

The coin was lodged dangerously in his throat, and any movement could have fully choked him. SCAA paramedics acted swiftly, stabilising Riley and flying him to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, where surgeons successfully removed the coin. Nicolle credits SCAA and the helicopter crew with saving her son’s life. Without SCAA’s intervention, Riley might not have survived.

David

David

David was given just 48 hours to live after a devastating car crash in November 2022. Thanks to the swift, lifesaving interventions of the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA), David not only survived but went on to marry his fiancée, Rachel, a year later to the day of the accident.

On a frosty morning, David's car collided with another in Warwickshire. WNAA's helicopter was dispatched, landing within seven minutes. Upon arrival, the crew immediately recognised the severity of his injuries: a fractured pelvis, ribs, clavicle, arm, vertebrae, a lacerated liver and spleen, a punctured lung, and a traumatic brain injury.

The WNAA team provided advanced care, including administering anaesthesia and blood transfusions, stabilising David at the scene. Their speed and expertise ensured he reached Coventry’s Major Trauma Centre in time for critical surgeries that ultimately saved his life.

Jane & Anna

Jane & Anna

Last November, Jane from Plymouth woke up feeling unwell but dismissed her symptoms. However, while going through her morning routine with her daughter Anna, she suddenly suffered a cardiac arrest.

Anna, who had recently completed a first aid course, performed CPR for 20 minutes before paramedics arrived. Arriving at Jane’s home, Devon Air Ambulance played a critical role, bringing advanced care directly to her. The team stabilised her and restarted her heart using a defibrillator before transferring her to Plymouth’s Derriford Hospital.  

Jane was placed in an induced coma after suffering a cardiac arrest, a rare heart attack and SCAD (spontaneous coronary artery dissection). Devon Air Ambulance’s swift intervention was vital in saving Jane’s life and preventing brain damage. After 10 days in hospital, Jane made a miraculous recovery, returning home in time for Christmas. The family remains eternally grateful to the air ambulance crew for their life-saving expertise.

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Rav Wilding
Researcher Melissa White
Production Assistant Megan Sedgwick
Production Manager Katie O'Hanlon
Executive Producer Hardeep Giani
Producer James Galbraith
Director James Galbraith

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