Extendedhoursfor life-savingservice

Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) is nearing the end of its first week of extended operations having increased its shift length from 10 hours to 12.

The Perth Airport-based emergency response helicopter air ambulance is currently operating between 8am and 8pm.

Calls throughout the week have seen SCAA take off for emergencies from Highland Perthshire to Campbeltown.

Of the 10 emergency calls received at SCAA this week, six were to cardiac arrest patients when rapid assistance can prove vital.

The long flight to Campbeltown saw SCAA airlift a patient for advanced hospital treatment in Glasgow – cutting dramatically the journey time of a road transfer.

A similar situation also took the team to Rothesay during the past week – again airlifting a patient quickly, comfortably and safely to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow.

*** The sale of over a quarter of a million carrier bags at shops supporting SCAA has raised well over £13,000 for the charity.

Many Perthshire stores have opted to divert the income from their 5p carrier bag levy to SCAA, supporting this valuable income stream.

*** A Christmas and New Year raffle at Ben Lawers Hotel in Aberfeldy has raised £177 for SCAA.

And existing supporters Initiate Business Development at Auchterarder have donated a further £300 in support of the charity’s life-saving work. Other donations handed in to SCAA in the past week from local supporters and fundraisers include a Perth woman who gifted £141 raised in lieu of birthday presents at her recent party.

Thanks also to Perth Job Centre where the staff are staging a year of fundraising events in aid of SCAA. Their latest venture raised £106.67.

And Pitlochry Station Bookshop has made another of its regular £300 donations.

Rotary Clubs throughout Scotland have been big supporters of the work SCAA does and clubs regularly donate funds to the charity. The latest donation from a local club is £200 from members of Kinross and District Rotary Club.

Local supporters are also signing up to take part in a variety of scheduled sponsored challenges. SCAA regional fundraising manager Helen MacGregor plans to run 10km in the Run Balmoral event later this month and has raised £275 in sponsorship to date.

A Pitlochry man has already raised £790 as he invites sponsorship for his cycle ride from London to Paris in July.

And a Blairgowrie man is cycling 50 miles around the capital in June as art of the Edinburgh Night Ride. He has raised £60 to date.

Precious pounds and pennies continue to pour into SCAA from the hundreds of collection cans placed at premises throughout the country.

Local cans being emptied this week include those from: Wades Newsagents, Aberfeldy (£15.72); Queen’s View Visitor Centre, Pitlochry (£87.62); Perth Police Station (£65.20); The Old Filling Station, Aberfeldy (£28.95); Murrayshall Hotel (£77.18); Kinross Golf Pro Shop (£23.92); Bridge of Earn Co-op (£35.63) and The Birks Cinema, Aberfeldy (£22.21).

*** 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 fastresponse emergency service.

Patients who are 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, they would love to hear from you.

Share your story by contacting media@scaa. org.uk.