AIR AMBULANCE WEEK! TODAY’S SUPPORTER, TOMORROW’S LIFESAVER!
Air Ambulance Week 2024 takes off across the UK from 9 – 15th September, with air ambulance charities delivering the vital message: “Today’s Supporter, Tomorrow’s Lifesaver.”
Air Ambulance Week is the only week in the year dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the vital lifesaving work of air ambulance charities and is organised by Air Ambulances UK, the national charity supporting the lifesaving work of the UK’s air ambulance charities, enabling them to save even more lives every day.
The national awareness week calls on people all over the UK to help support their local air ambulance charity. Anyone, anywhere in the UK can become a patient at any time. The message, “Today’s Supporter, Tomorrow’s Lifesaver,” reminds us that by becoming a supporter today, you can help save lives tomorrow. Throughout Air Ambulance Week, we highlight the stories of those whose lives have been impacted by dedicated critical care medics, who bring the hospital to the patient at the scene!
The campaign also highlights how air ambulance charities need your support to continue to deliver advanced pre-hospital care to people with a sudden life-threatening injury or illness, helping to save lives and improve patient outcomes. By supporting air ambulance charities you will truly be making a difference to someone’s life.
Each act of support today becomes hope for tomorrow, increasing the chances of survival and improving patient outcomes. Simmy Akhtar Air Ambulances UK’s CEO said:
“Today’s Supporter, Tomorrow’s Lifesaver is an important reminder of the impact each of us can make. Every day, air ambulance charities are collectively dispatched to over 126 lifesaving missions and each mission is funded almost entirely by the generosity of our local communities. As we celebrate Air Ambulance Week 2024, we recognise the invaluable impact of the dedicated teams who bring prehospital emergency care to patients in their most vulnerable moments. Through your generosity, air ambulance charities continue to save lives and improve patient outcomes across the UK.”
Air ambulance charities collectively make over 44,000 lifesaving missions each year across the UK. Each mission costs on average around £4,110* and is funded almost entirely by the generosity of local communities. There are 37 air ambulance helicopters in the UK operated by 21 air ambulance charities, providing pre-hospital care support to the NHS and forming an important part of the UK’s frontline emergency services.
The UK’s 21 air ambulance charities receive no day-to-day government funding and depend almost entirely on charitable donations to deliver their lifesaving care.
By supporting Air Ambulances UK and your local air ambulance, you are directly impacting lives and improving patient outcomes. Your compassion and generosity play a crucial role in sustaining the invaluable service we provide to our communities.”
Air Ambulances UK is calling on people all over the United Kingdom to support Air Ambulance Week 2024 to ensure air ambulance charities can continue to save the lives of people like Zac.
Zac’s mother recalled that Zac began to feel unwell and soon experienced a seizure, losing consciousness. The situation was extremely serious. Doctors quickly provided oxygen and administered a lifesaving drug to halt the seizures. The swift action and the intervention of the air ambulance were crucial. Without the air ambulance, Zac would not have survived. Click here to watch Zac’s story.
To show your support for Air Ambulance Week, you can make a one-off donation to Air Ambulances UK by visiting www.airambulancesuk.org/donate-now/, or get in direct contact with your local air ambulance charity.
Your support, however large or small, will make a lifesaving difference.
*cost varies depending on geography, patient need, clinical and operational models of the local air ambulance charity.
