Cash needed by lifesaving charity

St John is a charity and it needs your help to continue to save lives.

It is a vital and expensive business saving lives and caring for the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders.

Last year St John ambulance services had a shortfall of $14 million and this year that figure is expected to grow.

St John relies on the goodwill of New Zealanders to make up the difference. Last year St John attended 336,943 emergency incidents and treated and transported 395,731 patients.

St John provides emergency ambulance services for nearly 90 per cent of New Zealanders and to 97 per cent of New Zealand’s geographical area.

As one of New Zealand’s largest and much-loved charities, St John is committed to enhancing the health and wellbeing of all New Zealanders.

Today St John ambulances respond to nearly 1000 calls for help from throughout New Zealand every day. That is nearly twice as many calls as they answered 20 years ago.

Its ambulance services offer vital support in emergency and medical situations, and St John community programmes touch the lives of ordinary New Zealanders every day.

St John community programmes support communities throughout New Zealand in many ways and across all ages:

Caring Caller is a telephone friendship service that supports isolated people.

Friends of the Emergency Department volunteers provide comfort to patients in hospital emergency departments.

St John Health Shuttles transport people to and from medical and hospital appointments.

St John medical alarms offer dence for people on their own.

St John Youth delivers a fun interactive

indepen- programme for children and young people aged 6 to 18.

St John Events provide first aid at community events.

This year’s St John Appeal focuses on raising funds so St John can continue to provide its range of emergency services and community programmes.

By making a donation in this year’s St John Appeal (June 18 to 24) you can help St John continue to provide life-saving emergency services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and provide first aid, caring services and community programmes.

Every donation makes a difference and money donated during the 2012 St John Appeal will fund vital St John services and community programmes in communities throughout New Zealand.

Call 0800 ST JOHN (0800 785 646), donate online at stjohnappeal.org.nz or visit any ASB branch to make a donation and support St John.