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        A Message about our county’s Air Ambulance

Every day, Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance can make a real difference to the life of someone in the South East. The lifesaving charity is available to everyone living, working and travelling in the counties, 24 hours a day. Put quite simply, any one of us may need it at any time.  The charity’s two helicopters respond rapidly to serious medical emergencies and can reach the furthest part of each county within 25 minutes.

But it’s not just about the speed of the service; the specialist doctor and paramedic deliver enhanced pre-hospital care directly to the patient taking to the scene the type of expertise and equipment normally found only in a the resuscitation area of a hospital’s emergency department.  Modern trauma care dictates that early medical intervention is vital to save lives and reducing the impact of injuries so the medics will often carry out emergency treatment at the scene.

Three years ago, both aircraft started carrying blood so that emergency transfusions can be given at the scene rather than later on in hospital, and this advanced medical procedure is now carried out an average of seven times a month. More recently, the charity has also started giving plasma to help in clotting the blood and is one of only two air ambulances in the country to do this.

In September, 2013, the charity was the first air ambulance in the UK to launch night flying and remains the only one of its kind in the country to provide a full 24-hour Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS). Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance attends an average of six to eight calls a day, about 80% of which are trauma. It is often called to horse riders, cyclists and walkers in remote and inaccessible areas.  Patients are then taken to the most appropriate hospital according to their needs, often the Major Trauma Centres in London.

It is a common misconception that the air ambulance is funded by the government when in fact it relies almost entirely on public donations and receives no National Lottery funding.   It costs in excess of £6.5million-a-year to provide the service twentyfour hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.  It is through the generosity of the community that the air ambulance is able to provide this vital service.

The charity recently took delivery of a new Agusta Westland helicopter with greater endurance and capability which will allow for 360 degree access to the patient, and on-board treatment.   To learn more about the air ambulance or if you'd like to donate, hold a fundraising event, join the lottery or be a volunteer phone 01622 833833 or visit  <www.kssairambulance.org.uk> .

Photos at the Kent Air Ambulance Trust's "Thank You From the Helicopter Crew" 

on 5th June 2016 at the London Beach Country Hotel & Golf Course, Tenterden.

This gallery contains mobile phone photographs taken by Chris Godfrey when the Kent air ambulance landed after luncheon guests, who had raised substantial sponsorship funds, had been told about the latest developments in emergency care. They also met someone whose life had been saved, solely due to prompt treatment on board and speedy delivery to a major trauma hospital. The pilot, doctor & two paramedics are seen describing their work and answering the many questions.

The Five Church Walkers' donations, no matter how small when added together can total over £1,000 each year, so every little helps!

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