EAST
MIDLANDS AIR AMBULANCE"RTA
on A46. Two vehicles involved. One driver seriously injured. Immediate
assistance required." This
is just one of the many call outs received by the East Midlands
Air Ambulance, every day. When
head or spinal injuries are suspected, it is vital to get the victim
to hospital within sixty minutes, this is known as the Golden Hour.  | | The
helicopter is allowed to land almost anywhere |
In
rush hour in Nottingham, or out bike riding in the countryside,
the fastest way to hospital is via the skies. Reaching
speeds of over 150 miles an hour, the pilots are allowed to break
normal flying rules and land their aircraft just about anywhere. Facing
its own emergencyBut
what happens when the Air Ambulance faces its own emergency? Funding
is provided by charitable donations. When a typical air ambulance
costs up to 拢1.2 million to run each year, that's a lot of
donations. | "Many
people don't realise that most of the air ambulances are funded
by regional charities and are not part of the NHS. Some areas
are still unable to fly more than five days per week due to
lack of funds." | | Jon
Scourse, Director of the Air Ambulance Association. |
Whether
or not the helicopter takes to the skies in the future depends largely
on people's generosity. So
whether you are out and about in the countryside, or bumper to bumper
on the A1, you can feel safe in the knowledge that the air ambulance
is close to hand, but for how long? About the service- In
2001, over 12,600 air ambulance missions were flown across
England and Wales.
- On
average, a regional air ambulance is called out 3 times a
day.
- A
typical air ambulance costs between 拢700,000 to 拢1.2m
to run each year.
- Air
Ambulance Day is on 26th September 2002 and aims to raise money to support
the service.
- 47%
of call out are for road accidents.
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听听Inside Out - East Midlands: Monday 18th October, 2004
