Air ambulance Nearly 400 missions for SCAA in 2016

The urgent need to get an injured man quickly to hospital for surgery following a fall saw Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance fly to Campbeltown this week.

The air ambulance delivered the patient to the care of Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow within 30 minutes - a 140-mile road journey that can take over three hours.

When transfer to advanced hospital care is required, SCAA turns hours into minutes on long journeys - especially from Scotland’s most remote areas.

Throughout 2016 SCAA has responded to nearly 400 emergency call outs – many of them to serious illness or injury in Perthshire. *** Supporters are still thinking of SCAA amid their hectic preChristmas workload with several donations coming this week from local people.

A Blairgowrie couple, for example, opted to donate £70 to SCAA in lieu of sending Christmas cards.

And residents at Fishersview Court in Pitlochry sent £200 of Christmas cheer SCAA’s way after deciding to support the charity air ambulance instead of buying Secret Santa gifts.

Former SCAA patient Avis Allen from Dunkeld held another craft sale and raised £250 for the charity – her second year in a row. And a friend from Stanley at the event donated a further £200.

Ferntower Seniors Golfing Society has donated £100 to SCAA for the second year. And Oakbank Church and Sunday School have donated £100.

SCAA is also very grateful to families who remember the charity even at times of grief. This week a Scone couple handed in £100 in memory of a loved one.

An Aberfeldy woman who was helped by SCAA in 2015 has gifted £200 to them this Christmas. And the latest carrier bag levy donation from She of Scone brought in a further £50.

Pitlochry Station Bookshop is on track this Christmas with yet another £300 instalment in their on-going support story.

*** Have you been helped by SCAA?

If the charity flew to the aid of you or a loved one, they would love to hear from you.

Patients who are willing to share their story and experiences help SCAA to publicise and promote their life-saving service.

No one tells of the impact Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance is making better than the people whose lives have been touched by the fast- response emergency service. Share your story by contacting media@scaa.org.uk