SCAA medics add to their skills

SCAA paramedics were on scene within minutes in their rapid response road vehicle when they were called to a medical emergency in Scone.

They worked with a local GP until ground ambulance crew arrived and then travelled with the patient to Perth Royal Infirmary for surgical intervention.

And the paramedics were close at hand when a woman was injured in a fall at Perth Airport. They were able to treat her for a minor injury.

SCAA also took to the air in response to an emergency call to a road traffic accident on the A90 near Lonmay.

SCAA paramedics worked alongside colleagues from BASICS Scotland and the Scottish Ambulance Service at scene before the injured driver was taken a short journey by land ambulance to the waiting helicopter - which landed on a nearby hotel golf course.

The patient was then flown the 36 miles south to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

And the crew flew to Oban to airlift a cardiac patient to hospital in Glasgow.

The urgent air ambulance transfer saw SCAA fly the patient to Glasgow Airport for a short land ambulance journey to Glasgow Royal Infirmary.

SCAA paramedics have been expanding and enhancing their skills this week.

Graeme Hay from Perthshire has been selected as a potential instructor after successfully completing a BASICS Scotland PreHospital Paediatric Life Support course.

Once qualified, Graeme could deliver training in pre-hospital paediatric care anywhere in the UK.

And Graeme joined fellow SCAA paramedic John Salmond in completing a two-day Pre-Hospital Anaesthetics course delivered by Great North Air Ambulance near Newcastle.

Staff at Jewson’s Perth store are supporting SCAA and the company has donated £1,000 to the air ambulance from their nationwide charity Tour De Jewson cycling event.

The organiser of a monthly ceilidh in Milnathort Village Hall chooses a different charity to support at each gathering. SCAA was one of the beneficiaries from the fun event, receiving £100.

And regulars at Pitlochry Baptist Church Soup Lunch have collected £63 for SCAA.

Coupar Angus Garden Group staged a plant sale and afternoon tea at the recent Snowdrop Festival and donated £100 to SCAA.

Thanks also to a gentleman who held an event in Coupar Angus recently and has donated £180 to SCAA. And to a Perthshire family who gifted £428.12 in memory of a loved one.

Locally placed collecting cans being emptied at SCAA this week include those from:

The Country Store, Kinloch Rannoch (£83); G.C. Stores, Balbeggie (£21.87); Iain Smith Auctioneers, Scone (£66.89); ACS, Perth Airport (£59.55); Ballinluig Post Office (£29.46); The Courthouse restaurant/café, Kinross (£9.76) and Ballinluig Services (£58.30).

Have you been helped by SCAA? 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.Patients willing to share their story and experiences help SCAA to publicise and promote their life-saving service.

If the charity flew to the aid of you or a loved one, share your story on media@scaa.org.uk