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Midlands Air Ambulance Charity
A pre-hospital emergency service continues its mission to create bystander lifesavers across Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire and is calling on local businesses, schools, and communities for support.
Ahead of the European Restart a Heart Day (Sunday 16th October), and World Trauma Day (Monday 17th October), Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is urging the local community to take advantage of its free, in-person Mission Support training. The sessions offer lifesaving CPR and catastrophic bleed control training including guidance on how to help restart a heart and control heavy bleeding caused by traumatic injury, such as DIY disasters, falls and road traffic collisions.
Last year, cardiac arrests made up 30 per cent of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity's missions while trauma-related incidents – including road traffic collisions, haemorrhages or penetrating injuries – accounted for 43 per cent of call-outs, two per cent up on the previous year.
According to sources, approximately 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen every year in the UK. Less than one in ten people survive these cardiac arrests which is why performing CPR can more than double the chances of survival in some cases[1].
Ian Jones, clinical operations director for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said: "Cardiac arrests and trauma incidents consistently rank as the top types of mission we attend, and both may require immediate bystander support. The help of anyone close-by can make all the difference during those vital first few minutes before advanced critical care teams arrive to give the patient the best possible outcome and increase their chances of survival.
"The enhanced skills, advanced medicines and hospital-level equipment our highly-trained critical care paramedics and pre-hospital emergency medicine doctors bring to scene gives patients the best possible chance of survival and recovery. However, giving local people basic lifesaving skills so they know how to act immediately should the worst happen is invaluable and I hope businesses, schools and communities in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire are quick to take up our offer of free CPR and bleed training."
Former patient, Alastair Timmis knows all too well the difference early intervention can make to future recovery and outcomes. On 8th September 2013, Alastair sustained an injury playing football at Rock Sports Football Club in Bewdley, Wyre Forest.
He jumped for a header and was knocked unconscious and landed awkwardly on his ankle in the process which sent it in the wrong direction. He sustained a double fracture and dislocation of his right ankle.
Due to the lack of blood flow and time it would take for a land ambulance to get to hospital, the enhanced care team from Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s Strensham airbase were dispatched to the incident via air ambulance helicopter.
After assessing and treating Alastair on scene, the critical care team airlifted him to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.
Alastair says: “Sadly, my ankle has never fixed fully. Everyday life is okay, but I’m no longer able to run or play sports.
“Midlands Air Ambulance is a great charity which I am forever in debt to.”
To book a free session of lifesaving CPR and bleed control training, visit the training page on the website.
[1] Source: www.bhf.org.uk