cornwall air ambulance: the sky's the limit - spring 2015

www.timesaveslives.comRegistered Charity 1133295

Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust

@Cornwallairamb

The Sky’s the LimitThe Cornwall Air Ambulance Newsletter | Spring 2015 | Issue 10

Tel: 01637 889926 · www.cornwallairambulance.org [email protected] · Registered charity: 1133295

Into the Future: Cornwall’s New Air Ambulance Helicopters ArriveTwo new helicopters to serve the people of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly have come into service.

The new MD902 ‘Explorer’ aircraft - used in air ambulance, Police and civilian roles all over the world - are taking Cornwall’s lifesaving air ambulance service into the future.

For the first time, Cornwall now has two air ambulance helicopters. The aircraft won’t be flying at the same time; each day one will be on duty, with the other ready to take over at a moment’s notice to ensure Cornwall Air Ambulance is there for those in need.

Previously if the helicopter was offline due to unscheduled or routine maintenance, a backup aircraft had to be flown down from Gloucester which - if available - could take 24 hours to arrive. Having two helicopters based in Cornwall will help eliminate mechanical downtime, allowing us to fly more missions and ultimately help save more lives.

Both aircraft are equipped with Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS) goggles and spotlights, meaning for the first time our crews will be able to carry out lifesaving rescue missions after dark.

Initially the crew will be flying 12 hours per day throughout the year, whereas previously they were restricted to flying as few as 8 hours per day in the dark winter months.

We estimate this change alone could result in the crew being able to fly up to an extra 50 missions every year. For some patients, those will be the missions that count.

A creative contract means Cornwall will have an enhanced emergency service with roughly the same leasing costs as before, providing the best possible value for the money you raise.

Find out more about Cornwall’s new air ambulance helicopters - plus the official launch event - on page 2.

24,990 Rescue Missions - Funded By People Like You

An Urgent Appeal

Urgently required: clothing donations for our charity shops.Find out how you can help on page 5

| Spring 2015 | Issue 10

Cornwall’s New Air Ambulances (continued from page 1)

28 years. 25,000 Rescue Missions. Countless Lives Saved.In 1987 Cornwall became the first county in the UK to have an air ambulance. 28 years on and the service is still going strong.

In fact, we are rapidly approaching our 25,000th mission - and by the time you read this, we likely will have hit this incredible milestone. That’s 25,000 patients - or 60 Jumbo Jets full of people - we have been called on to help in their moment of need in the past 30 years.

We want to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you.

Every week we receive messages and visits from patients helped by Cornwall Air Ambulance. With 25,000 patients, their friends and families, this charity has touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the last 30 years - and it’s all down to people like you. Thank You.

Mark is ‘Paramedic of the Year’One of Cornwall Air Ambulance’s longest-serving aircrew has been recognised at the national Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence.

Mark, who has been a Cornwall Air Ambulance Paramedic for 8 years and has flown over 2,000 rescue missions, was named Paramedic of the Year at the national awards in November.

The panel recognised Mark’s exemplary patient care, but also his dedication to the charity. In addition to his role as a Paramedic, Mark regularly takes part in extreme challenges - from Skydives to Marathons in both the Namib Desert and the Arctic Circle - to raise funds and awareness for Cornwall Air Ambulance. Over the years he has raised over £25,000 for the charity.

Cornwall Air Ambulance team members were shortlisted in a total of five categories at the awards.

Dig Deep for Cornwall!Get your green fingers digging deep at our annual plant sale!

If you’re itching to get out in the garden and get planting for spring, head along to our annual plant sale on Sunday 17th May. Whether you’ve got a window box or a smallholding, come along and grab some beautiful plants between 11am and 4pm at our Newquay airbase.

All plants are donated by local garden centres and nurseries, so all money raised will go to keeping Cornwall Air Ambulance flying.There will be refreshments and a raffle, as well as chance to see the Cornwall Air Ambulance, so spread the word among your green-fingered friends and join us for a forage in the foliage!

If you run a local garden centre or nursery and would be able to donate some plants we’d love to hear from you - and we can collect! Just call us on 01637 889926.

... One helicopter is registered G-CNWL and the other G-SASO which, in the coming months, will be re-registered G-CIOS in recognition of the communities we serve.

To make the most of the space, the internal layout of the cabin has been designed by the aircrew to allow them to deliver the best possible patient care.

The crew’s medical kit bags now have purpose-built stowage, making them accessible in-flight if the patient’s condition changes.

The helicopter also incorporates advanced safety features, such as the NOTAR system, which replaces the tail rotor blade with a fan system, making it a safer environment for patients and crew.

There’s also a built-in liferaft, meaning the crew no longer have to remove a seat and fit the raft before missions to the Isles of Scilly, saving vital minutes.

Official Launch

The new helicopters were unveiled in front of special guests, trustees, staff and volunteers at the Cornwall Air Ambulance base on 12th January.

Celebrated lyricist Sir Tim Rice and Victoria Milligan, who raised over £270,000 for Cornwall Air Ambulance in memory of her late husband Nick and daughter Emily, were among the guests in attendance at the official unveiling.

The money raised by Mrs Milligan wholly funded the night vision equipment for the new aircraft. To commemorate their unprecedented fundraising, Mrs Milligan unveiled an epitaph on G-CNWL, reading ‘Nicko and Emily Milligan. Flying over Cornwall. Saving lives together.’

The new helicopters were blessed by the Bishop of Truro.

Lady Mary Holborow, chairman of Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, said: “I am immensely proud that we are able to provide an even better service to the people of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

“To be able to fly for longer hours, with the provision of two helicopters based here in Cornwall is a great achievement.”


Farewell, G-KRNW!The excitement of the arrival of the new Cornwall Air Ambulance helicopters was tinged with sadness at the departure of G-KRNW.

The iconic red and yellow helicopter served this county for 13 years, flying thousands of missions between 2001 and 2014.

She bowed out in style - her last mission was to airlift a seriously ill baby girl who had stopped breathing. She was taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital where she received excellent treatment, and was able to return home in time for her first Christmas.

G-KRNW has now been redeployed by operators Bond Air Services and, at the time of going to press, is providing the air ambulance service for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Sadly, helicopter registrations are permanent and can only be used on one aircraft, so the G-KRNW registration went with the aircraft. It does mean, though, that a piece of Cornwall Air Ambulance’s history will continue to fly through the skies for years to come!

Farewell, G-KRNW, and thanks for keeping the people of Cornwall - and our crew - safe for 13 years.

708 missions flown

Funded by people like you329 volunteers gave 50,113 hours

352 medical emergency missions

172 cardiac emergencies - 1 in 4 missions

306 trauma injury patients

94 neuro conditions

95 babies, children & teens helped 58 beach & coast incidents

23 industrial & agricultural incidents 34 equestrian accidents

90 serious trips & falls 72 RTCs - 1 in 3 involving motorbikes

In Aid Of

2014: The Difference Your Support Made

Data correct at time of printing. Based on data from 01/01/2014 - 31/12/2014

83 missions in May - the busiest month

What Did Cornwall Air Ambulance Do Last Year?Every year Cornwall Air Ambulance responds to around 700 emergency rescue missions. Each mission is different - with our Paramedics and Pilots having to think on their feet to deal with whatever incident they are tasked to.

Medical emergencies are the most common incidents attended by Cornwall Air Ambulance and can be anything from a heart attack or stroke to a seizure, asthma attack or many other medical problems.

The crew also treat many trauma patients with physical injuries caused by Road Traffic Collisions, falls, sporting accidents and a range of other incidents. Trauma is the biggest cause of death in under 45s.

Cornwall Air Ambulance is also tasked to transfer patients from local

hospitals to dedicated units such as the Swansea Burns Centre or Bristol Children’s Hospital for specialist treatment.

Usually Cornwall Air Ambulance is tasked to incidents where the speed of the helicopter will make a significant difference to the patient’s chances of survival and long-term prognosis.

The crew are also tasked to incidents where there is simply no other way to get medical care to a patient - perhaps because they are on an isolated part of Bodmin Moor, a remote stretch of coastpath, a secluded cove or even the Isles of Scilly.

Find out more about the type of incidents we attended in 2014 in the infographic below.

Dig Deep for Cornwall!


Join us for a night of fine dining and live entertainment at our Hollywood Glamour themed summer ball this July.

Last year’s 007-themed summer ball was a huge sellout success, with over 200 supporters dining and dancing the night away. This year expect even more glitz and glamour as we take you back to the Golden era of Hollywood on Saturday 25th July.

Enjoy a complimentary drink on arrival, followed by a sumptuous three course dinner in the air ambulance helicopter hangar. Bid on money-can’t-buy prizes in the auction and try your hand at the Casino before dancing the night away with live music and a disco.

Get your glamour on and join us for this Hollywood-themed night of fundraising fun to keep Cornwall Air Ambulance saving lives.

Tickets are available at just £70 per person - or £65 for a limited number of early tickets. To purchase your ticket call us on 01637 889926 or go to www.cornwallairambulance.org/ball

Take On The Reigning Champs in It’s A Cornish Knockout 2015If you’re looking for a fun, foam-filled day out this summer then look no further!

We’re on the hunt for teams to take part in our It’s A Cornish Knockout event and battle it out to be crowned champions in 2015.

With games involving silly costumes, water, foam and lots of laughs, this year’s event promises to be bigger and better than our inaugral It’s A Knockout challenge last year - so come along and enjoy the fun!

The fun and games will take place as part of our family fun day at Pencarrow House and Gardens near Wadebridge on Sunday 23rd August. There will be plenty to do for everyone including a craft fair, fun dog show and licensed bar so why not bring the whole family along for a great day out?

Last year 16 teams took part - ranging from teams of colleagues to groups of friends. For companies, this is a fun and enjoyable team-building challenge, as well as a chance to get your company’s name out there as one that cares about giving something back to Cornwall.

We’re looking for teams of between 6 and 10 people, so get together with a group of friends or work colleagues, grab your best fancy dress and join in the fun.

Team entry costs £500 – so with ten in a team that’s only £50 each to fundraise! We can supply you with collection jars (for a swear jar in the office perhaps?!), collection buckets, banners, posters and lots of fundraising advice.

A huge thank you to Ann’s Cottage for sponsoring this event, ensuring even more money is raised for Cornwall Air Ambulance!

For more details on this fantastic, fun-filled day – and to register your team – visit www.cornwallairambulance.org/knockout

An urgent appeal

Sponsored by


A True Challenge: PC Faye Learns to Walk Again for Great Wall TrekWhen Faye Webb was thrown from her horse it looked like her dreams of trekking the Great Wall of China were shattered.

Faye is a Police officer on the Isles of Scilly and - when off-duty - enjoys nothing more than heading out for a ride on horse Patrick.

“I went to get on Patrick and something spooked him. He took off. I’ve been riding for years and I’m an instructor, but as he bolted down the field he started to buck. There was nothing I could do.”

Faye was thrown clear of the horse onto the cold winter ground.

“When I landed, my left foot was near my face,” said Faye. “I normally ride alone but fortunately my friend Tess was with me, and she’s First Aid trained. She kept me still until a First Responder, Paramedic and Doctor arrived. I was given Diamorphine, but the worst bit was they had to cut my leather riding boots off!

“I’ve got a vivid recollection of the air ambulance arriving,” recalled Faye. “I remember Paul, the Paramedic, stepping out and seeing his big, blue eyes as he reassured me. I remember thinking: ‘my hero!’”

Faye was flown to Royal Cornwall Hospital Treliske, where she remained for three weeks. Her leg was broken in 12 places.

“Just before the accident I had been looking at trekking the Great Wall of China,” said Faye. “I remember lying in Treliske and the Doctors telling me it was unlikely I’d be able to do something like that now, but I was determined to make it happen.

“I was fortunate to have access to the Police Rehab Unit, and the community on Scilly was amazing. One of the hotels even let me use their pool to help my recovery. I had people coming to see me who just wanted to do all they could to help. It’s a wonderful community.

“The experience showed me the importance of the air ambulance to Scilly. Every single person on the islands has either needed the air ambulance themselves - or a close friend or family member has needed it. We couldn’t function without it here. It’s vital.”

12 months after her accident, Faye is preparing to join the Cornwall Air Ambulance Great Wall of China challenge. To sponsor her text FAYW88 followed by the amount you wish to donate to 70070.

An urgent appealWe urgently require donations of good quality

clothing for our charity retail stores.

Clear Out. Keep It Up.

Get Into the Swing of Spring!We’re asking you to get into the swing of Spring and have a clear out to help keep Cornwall Air Ambulance flying.

Every year sales at Cornwall Air Ambulance charity shops contribute over £250,000 to keeping Cornwall’s lifesaving emergency helicopter in the air, saving time and saving lives.

That’s a pretty amazing figure when you consider that’s almost entirely from sales of donated, unwanted items that otherwise would have gone to landfill.

Our seven shops around Cornwall are so popular with shoppers that they urgently require donations of unwanted, quality clothing to keep up with demand. We’re particularly asking for clothing donations but will also gratefully accept books, bric-a-brac, furniture, electrical items and more. If we can’t sell it, we recycle it, which also provides an income for the charity.

How to Donate

You can drop your donations in to any of our charity shops in Saltash, Wadebridge, St Austell, Newquay, Truro, Camborne and Helston, many of which have convenient parking to make donating hassle-free. You can also donate at our Newquay airbase.

Alternatively, why not drop off your donations at any Lloyds Bank branch in Cornwall, or at Wilko stores in Redruth and St Austell.

If you have more than a car full of items to donate - or large items such as furniture - we can collect from you. Just call our Camborne warehouse on 01209 612404 to arrange free collection from anywhere in Cornwall.

To find out more - and to find your nearest shop - go to www.cornwallairambulance.org/clearout


Neil’s Story: How Volunteering for Cornwall Air Ambulance Got Me A JobWhen Neil Rowe was made redundant from a furniture factory in St Austell he dedicated his time to volunteering.

Neil walked into the Cornwall Air Ambulance St Austell shop one day and asked about volunteering. After an informal interview Neil started as a volunteer, giving up to 30 hours of his time every week to the charity.

Neil’s previous experience with furniture meant he quickly became an integral part of the shop’s team of volunteers. This meant Neil was able to gain invaluable retail experience in a fun, friendly and relaxed environment, whilst working with the Jobcentre in the search for suitable paid employment.

Neil has recently been offered a position as a sales assistant with BM Stores. He says volunteering for Cornwall Air Ambulance gave him the retail experience and training which helped him to win the job.

To find out more about how volunteering can help you and Cornwall Air Ambulance, call our volunteer coordinator, Jackie, on 01637 889926 or visit www.cornwallairambulance.org/volunteer

“Mission Maker Lottery Really Does Help Save Lives... I Should Know”Mr and Mrs Jennings had played the Cornwall Air Ambulance lottery for years when, in May 2014, they found out why it matters.

“We were in the pub at Lanivet having Sunday lunch,” recalls Mrs Jennings. “Suddenly he keeled over having a massive heart attack.”

Showing the importance of First Aid training, fortunately a man in the pub at the time was able to administer lifesaving CPR to Mr Jennings as an ambulance and the Cornwall Air Ambulance sped to the scene.

The CPR was continued by Paramedics and special equipment carried onboard the air ambulance as Mr Jennings was raced to the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske. He was kept in intensive care for three weeks and underwent a quadruple heart bypass.

Just eight months later, Mr and Mrs Jennings were at home one Friday afternoon when they received a phonecall.

“We couldn’t believe it when they said we’d won £1,000 on the Cornwall Air Ambulance lottery,” said Mrs Jennings. “We always supported the air ambulance because it’s a good cause.

“We’d never expected to need it ourselves, and certainly you hope you never do - but thank goodness it’s there. It brought it home to us that it may just be £1 each week, but our lottery membership really does make a difference.

“We now have cause to be very grateful to Cornwall Air Ambulance - in more ways than one!”

Play our Lottery. Be a Mission MakerBe in with a chance of winning £1,000 per week - and help keep Cornwall Air Ambulance flying - with Mission Maker: the Cornwall Air Ambulance lottery.

Playing the Mission Maker lottery is fun, simple and costs just £1 per entry per week.

You can pay by cheque or Direct Debit - so it really is simple to get involved and be in with a chance of winning.

You can have as many entries as you like; every time you play, you’re helping fund lifesaving emergency rescue missions in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

To join Mission Maker lottery, call our lottery line on 01637 222525 or visit www.cornwallairambulance.org/lottery

Did you Know...?Cornwall Air Ambulance takes patients to the

best hospital for their needs, not just the closest hospital. By air ambulance, specialist units like the Bristol Children’s Hospital are minutes from

Cornwall - rather than hours by road.

That’s just one of the nuggets of knowledge you can find out at one of our community talks!

Come to our Newquay airbase to see the helicopter and crew - or we can come to you.

Call 01637 889926 to book in your talk.

£1000£10

£250£150


2 Miles Per Minute: How Time Saves LivesFor a county like Cornwall, an air ambulance is essential. Flying at over 2 miles per minute, time really does help us save lives.

Cornwall presents unique challenges for those whose job it is to keep us safe. The shape of Cornwall, alongside its scattered population, rugged landscape, isolated rural and island communities, secluded beaches and congested, slow road network can make it very challenging to reach patients in need of urgent medical help.

Many parts of Cornwall are far from an Accident and Emergency department; the nearest to Bude, for example, is over 50 miles away - an hour and a quarter by road but just 25 minutes by air.

Even areas which appear close to hospital can be isolated. St Mawes, for example, is just 8 miles from the Royal Cornwall Hospital by air, yet by road the journey would take around 45 minutes. By air ambulance that journey would take just 5 minutes.

Flying at around 120 knots (140 mph) Cornwall Air Ambulance can reach any part of mainland Cornwall in under 20 minutes - and the Isles of Scilly in under 30 minutes.

The Major Trauma Centre for the southwest is now Derriford Hospital in Plymouth. For patients suffering serious trauma injuries, this hospital represents the best possible treatment options.

If a patient can be delivered to a specialist unit such as Derriford within 45 minutes, Paramedics can elect to bypass closer hospitals in favour of the enhanced expertise and equipment available at a specialist centre. For the majority of Cornwall it is only possible to reach this specialist unit within this timeframe by air ambulance.

Speed can make an even more dramatic difference when a patient needs to access specialist treatment centres further afield, such as the Bristol Children’s Hospital - nearly 3 hours from central Cornwall by road; just 55 minutes by air ambulance.

For Cornwall an air ambulance is not a luxury - it’s an essential emergency service, and it’s all funded by people like you.

The Generous IslesCornwall Air Ambulance is a lifeline to many of the more remote parts of the county - none more so than the Isles of Scilly.

In a medical emergency, the only way off the islands is by helicopter - and that usually means Cornwall Air Ambulance (with Search and Rescue cover when the air ambulance is unavailable in extreme weather and overnight). Cornwall Air Ambulance can reach the islands in under 30 minutes from our Newquay airbase.

For the people of Scilly, the air ambulance really is a lifeline - and that’s reflected in the astonishing support this charity receives from the islands. In 2014 the people of Scilly raised over £29,000 for Cornwall Air Ambulance - nearly £14 per person!

From collection jars in shops and on tripper boats to fundraising events and stalls selling produce, flowers and crafts in aid of Cornwall Air Ambulance, the people of Scilly really are incredible supporters of this charity. St Martins has its own volunteer-run Cornwall Air Ambulance charity shop, and even famous feline PC Mowgli - star of the Isles of Scilly Police Facebook page - is a keen supporter!

Five islanders have taken part in Cornwall Air Ambulance challenges, and in 2014 two islanders even ran a half marathon on St Marys after their Plymouth Half Marathon transport plans were scuppered by the weather. That’s dedication!

From all at Cornwall Air Ambulance to Scillonian residents and visitors alike: a huge thank you for your support.

20 minutes

15 minutes

10 minutes

5 minutes

H

H

H

H

Swansea Burns Unit

Bristol Children’s Hospital

Southampton Burns Unit

Derriford Major Trauma Centre

1hr 10mins55 minutes42 m

inutes

15 minutes

All flying times approximate, based on 120kts groundspeed from Cornwall Air Ambulance base


Thank YouWe receive no government or National Lottery funding for our operations so rely on people like you to stay in the air. To our airlifted patients and their families, your support means the world. This is just a very small selection of those who have supported us recently...

St Austell & District Round Table - and all the teams - for raising £11,837.44 from the

Pula or Bust Banger Rally 2014

Hawkins Arms Zelah for raising £3,216.63 at their fun weekend, with kid’s entertainment, a

festive market, ‘boozy bingo’ and more

St Buryan Young Farmers for raising an astonishing £1,621.06 through a dung run,

euchre drive, carol singing and more

Guy Mackenzie for organising the Charlie Gracie concert and auction - including this

unique CAAT guitar - raising £2,086

CF Systems for donating £500 to keep Cornwall Air Ambulance flying - instead of giving Christmas gifts to clients! Thank You!

Neighbours Mike, Ann, Karen, Jerry, Mike and Vera for lighting up their street at Christmas

and raising £312.35

Lanlivery Vintage Rally for choosing to support us once more and raising a fantastic

£5,000

Dylan and Kyrie who donated the contents of their pocket money tins - £78.83 - after

Dylan was rescued in 2014

Good Energy for donating £500 - and the Delabole Windfarm Committee for nominating Cornwall Air Ambulance

HBH Woolacotts for donating a Dyson vacuum to keep the Cornwall Air Ambulance

helicopter dirt, dust and sand free!

Par Ladies Circle, who raised £565 through various fundraising events including a Cheese

and Wine Night - Cheers!

The staff and guests at Hendra Holiday Park who raised a huge £2,711 through events,

raffles, donations and supermarket J J Wilson


These people are just a few of our amazing Groundcrew who donate their time to help the Cornwall Air Ambulance.

Whatever your interests or experience, there are a variety of ways of getting involved with Cornwall Air Ambulance.

Retail Groundcrew volunteer in our shops. They might be serving customers on the till, merchandising the items on the shop floor, sorting, steaming and pricing donations or joining the Van Drivers as a Buddy lifting and shifting furniture.

Retail Groundcrew usually donate their time regularly each week, helping cover all aspects of running their shop.

Fundraising Groundcrew are typically people who can offer their time now and again. They might help run a charity stall at a large event, collect for the day at a supermarket or be on hand to collect a cheque from one of our many supporters and have their picture taken for the press. We also have some volunteers who have the skills to deliver our charity presentation for community groups.

Admin Groundcrew are keen to use their administration skills in updating the charity databases or other systems at charity HQ.

These people look like you and have the same kind of life as you, but they also volunteer for this fantastic charity.

It may only be an hour now and again, or two or three days a week, but it all helps to keep the helicopter flying.

You don’t need any prior experience, as full training will be given. Volunteering is a great way of helping keep Cornwall Air Ambulance flying - but our volunteers also find it benefits them, whether through gaining new skills, meeting new friends, or just the satisfaction of giving something back to Cornwall.

Could you become one of the Groundcrew? Give our Volunteer Coordinator Jackie a call on 01637 889926 or apply online at www.cornwallairambulancetrust.org/volunteer

Leave a Lasting Legacy to CornwallOne in three of our emergency missions are funded by people leaving a gift to Cornwall Air Ambulance in their will.

Your friends and family will always come first when you are writing your Will, and that’s how it should be.

After you’ve provided for your loved ones, though, please do consider leaving a gift to Cornwall Air Ambulance.

Any size of gift - large or small - will make a difference. It’s a wonderful way to ensure your memory lives on after you’re gone.

For a confidential discussion about leaving a gift in your Will, please call Susie Smith, Head of Fundraising, on 01637 889926.

Can You Help?We’re keen to hear from potential volunteers across the county, but in particular we’d love to hear from people in these areas...

Could you volunteer?Call 01637 889926 or go to

www.cornwallairambulance.org/volunteer

Bude

Newquay

Penzance

Camborne

Falmouth


Lifesaving Through a Lens...Having two new air ambulances for Cornwall is a fantastic step into the future - but it does have one downside!

We have thousands of images of the old Cornwall Air Ambulance helicopter helping save lives across the county, but very few images of the new aircraft out and about.

If you grab any images of the Cornwall Air Ambulance helicopters out on a mission, we would love to see them! They help us show the vital, lifesaving work our crews undertake on a daily basis.

We want you to be safe whilst taking photographs, so please never approach the helicopter, as this could endanger you, our crews and the patient. We would also ask you to respect the confidentiality of the patient by not getting too close.

Please email images, in high-resolution format, to: [email protected]

Did you Know...?Fund a Flight Week is where we ask everyone in Cornwall to do

something fun to help keep Cornwall Air Ambulance flying!

Fund a Flight Week is 21st - 27th September 2015, so get planning now! At work, at school, in your community, or even at home - what could you

do to help fund a flight for Cornwall Air Ambulance?

WEEK WEEK

Help Keep Us Flying Just By Shopping OnlineIf you ever shop online, you can help keep Cornwall Air Ambulance flying - at no extra cost to you!

Thousands of online retailers - including big brands like Amazon, Argos, Tesco and iTunes - have signed up to donate a commission to Cornwall Air Ambulance every time you shop online with them.

This commission is already included in the price of what you’re buying, so you can support Cornwall Air Ambulance at no extra cost to you.

On average, retailers donate 2.5% of your transaction amount, so this can really add up, particularly on big-ticket items like furniture or holidays. Even on smaller items, pennies make pounds, which keep Cornwall’s lifesaving air ambulance flying!

Already, our Give As You Live shoppers have raised enough to fund two hours of fuel for the helicopter - at no cost to them!

To sign up go to www.cornwallairambulance.org/giveasyoulive Give as you Live®

Thank You to Our PatientsCornwall Air Ambulance has once again featured on BBC One programme Countryside 999.

The fly-on-the-wall documentary series highlighted the diverse range of missions Cornwall Air Ambulance is tasked to, involving patients of all ages - from babies to the elderly.

Some of the patients featured included a man who fell 25 feet on a building site, a baby who stopped breathing, and a man seriously injured when a gas canister exploded in his face.

The series was filmed over the summer of 2014 by specially trained onboard cameramen and miniature cameras mounted in the aircraft.

As a charity, programmes like this allow us to show you - our supporters - just what your donations make possible. Therefore we want to say thank you to the patients featured - and their families - for allowing their stories to be used in the series.

Did you know: We only know your story if you decide to tell us! Patient confidentiality means the charity is not given any detail about our patients. If you’ve been helped by Cornwall Air Ambulance, please get in touch. You can call us on 01637 889926 or email [email protected]

Picture: Emma King/RNLI

I would like to make a single donationI enclose a cheque payable to ‘Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust’ for

c £5 c £30 c £100 c other £Gift Aid: I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand the charity will reclaim 28p of tax on every £1 that I gave up to April 2008 and will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I give on or after 6 April 2008.

Please treat as Gift Aid donations all qualifying gifts of money made:

c In the past 4 years c Today & in the futurePlease tick all boxes you wish to apply.

Name and full home address:

Signature: Date:

Please notify us if you wish to cancel this declaration, change your details or no longer pay sufficient tax.

I would like to make a regular donationTo: The Manager, Bank or Building Society

Address:

Postcode: Name/s of Account Holder/s:

Bank/Building Society Account Number / Sort Code

ref:

Amount to be debited £ (in words)

c Monthly c Quarterly c Annually Date of first payment / /

Until further notice / Date: / / (delete as appropriate)

Signature: Date:For Charity Use Only:Please donate to Beneficiary Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, Registered Charity 1133295. Bank name and address: HSBC, 3 Fore Street, Bodmin, Cornwall PL31 2HUAccount Number Sort Code

3 1 4 5 8 9 0 6 4 0 1 2 2 2Please return to us at: Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust, Trevithick Downs, Newquay TR8 4DY

I would like to make a donation and help to save lives in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly

#

#

Miracle Baby John: Beating the Odds at Three Days OldBaby John was just three days old when he collapsed at home in Mullion. 12 months on, Jemma and Gareth are looking forward to John’s first birthday - a day they thought they may never see.

John’s Mum, Jemma, recalls the day her baby collapsed vividly.

“He hadn’t been feeding well, so I called the midwife,” says Jemma. “Whilst she was with us, John collapsed. It was so fortunate it happened whilst she was there as she knew what to do, phoning the ambulance and helping John whilst keeping me calm.

“When the Paramedics arrived they started treating John and it was clear he needed to get to hospital quickly. They didn’t think he would make it to hospital by road so they called for the air ambulance.”

Onboard that day was pilot Phil Merrit and Paramedics Mick McLachlan and Mark Fuszard. Also onboard was Doctor Dave Ashton-Cleary, who was able to provide additional care to baby John.

“The Doctor and Paramedic onboard cared for John so well. There was no way to tell what was going on inside his little body, but they were so caring, which helped me feel reassured that somehow he would be OK. They were brilliant - just brilliant.”

The flight to Treliske took less than 15 minutes, with the Doctor and Paramedics caring for baby John all the way.

After John had been stabilised by teams at the Royal Cornwall Hospital Treliske he was transferred to the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children for specialist treatment.

“He had keyhole surgery to open his aortic valve which hadn’t formed properly, meaning his blood wasn’t moving as it should. After two weeks in intensive care, we were allowed home, but within days John was back in hospital as the valve was narrowing.

“At four weeks old, John underwent open heart surgery, and at six weeks he had more surgery to fit a biological valve. He was the second youngest child ever to have the procedure at the hospital, and surgeons said his heart was the size of a small walnut.”

After this lifesaving surgery John was allowed home and his parents Jemma and Gareth and three year old sister Jess are now looking forward to his first birthday.

“When it all happened last February we faced a very real chance he wouldn’t make his first birthday. To think it’s only ten days away is amazing. To look at him now you’d just think he’s a totally normal

little boy. You wouldn’t know what he’s been through.”

In October Jemma and Gareth organised an equestrian fundraising event in aid of Cornwall Air Ambulance and the Bristol Children’s Hospital, donating £1,195 to Cornwall Air Ambulance.

“We always see the air ambulance in this neck of the woods,” said Jemma, “but you never think you’ll need it yourself. If it hadn’t been for the air ambulance I don’t know if John would be here today.

“Everyone involved was fantastic - from the Midwife and land ambulance Paramedics to the hospital teams at Treliske and Bristol - but it was Cornwall Air Ambulance that got him there in time.”

Image: West Briton

Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust Trevithick Downs Newquay Cornwall TR8 4DY

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Spring 2015 | Issue 10

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