Wales Air Ambulance
How have they helped Elain?
"We're very fortunate in Wales to have this service available to us. Elain was transferred from Aberystwyth to Cardiff in under 25 minutes meaning she did not have to wait a crucial hour-and-a-half extra by road ambulance before receiving specialist treatment."
About
Wales Air Ambulance is an all Wales charity providing a vital service through emergency air cover for those who face life-threatening illness or injuries.
Why are we needed?
Owing to its widely scattered population and diverse landscape, many in Wales live in isolated locations far from an accident and emergency service. Also, the ever increasing problem of traffic congestion and collisions in more urban areas denotes delayed response times for land ambulances. For these reasons, there is a recognised need for three helicopters on active duty 365 days a year.
How do we make a difference?
Taken fromIt is widely believed that a patient’s chances of survival and early recovery are increased if they receive the right care within the first hour, otherwise known as the Golden Hour. The quick response times and the expert medical care provided by the Wales Air Ambulance crews across Wales ensure that this Golden Hour is achieved every time.
Where are the helicopters based?
There are three helimed crews based in the North (Caernarfon), Mid (Welshpool) and South (Swansea) of Wales. Each crew has of one pilot and two advanced life support paramedics who are trained in the latest techniques in pre hospital emergency care ensure the patient receives the most effective treatment.
How long does it take to respond to an emergency?
Each helicopter can be launched within 3 minutes of receiving an emergency call. From the three airbases, a helicopter can be anywhere in Wales within just 20 minutes.
Who calls the ambulance out?
In Wales we have three ambulance controls, which are located in Llanfairfechan, Cwmbran and Carmarthen. When somebody calls 999 for an ambulance, the call goes straight to the ambulance control. The person on the end of the phone will ask the caller a number of questions relating to the medical emergency. Ambulance control will then deploy one of the helicopters.
How much does it cost to run the service?
The charity needs to raise over £5 million per year to operate the service. The charity raises all the funds required for the day to day running of missions, with each mission on average costing £1200.
How do we raise the money?
WAA is funded by the people of Wales, relying on the public support to help keep them flying. The charity does not receive direct funding from the government and because they are classed as an emergency service they also fail to qualify for National Lottery funding. The money is therefore raised through charitable donations, fundraising events, and membership of their lifesaving lottery.
Taken from www.walesairambulance.com
Charity Number: 1083645
