Flying patients in chopper much safer and quicker than road transfer
Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) made a Christmas Day flight to Rothesay on the isle of Bute to airlift a seriously ill woman to hospital on the mainland.
The urgent transfer saw SCAA airlift the patient to the Royal Alexandra Hospital at Paisley for advanced medical treatment.
The Boxing Day crew made exactly the same journey 24 hours later when they were called to the aid of a little boy on Bute.
The sick youngster also required an urgent transfer to hospital at Paisley, accompanied on the aircraft by his father.
The flight for each patient was around 15 minutes - far less than the equivalent road journey by ferry and ambulance which would have taken around two hours.
SCAA’s road based Rapid Response Vehicle takes paramedic care rapidly to the scene of serious illness or injury within several miles of the charity’s airport base.
In the week before Christmas alone, the state-of-the-art, fully equipped 4 x 4 vehicle responded to seven emergencies in and around Perth, ranging from road traffic collisions and falls to strokes and cardiac arrests.
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BowerswellTenants Group helped round off a fabulous year of local public support for SCAA with a £1,000 donation.
The money was raised through social gatherings, keep-fit classes and coffee mornings by the residents all in their 70s, 80s and 90s.
Other donations from local supporters and fundraisers towards the end of the year include £55 from Findynate Estate near Pitlochry raised at a recent shoot.
Sincere thanks also to the residents of Fishers View Court retirement apartments at Pitlochry who donated £200 to SCAA in lieu of some Christmas presents.
Book lovers who frequent Pitlochry Station Bookshop have helped channel a further £300 into SCAA’s coffers. The book-selling charity has now donated a total of £26,280 to SCAA.
A St Andrew’s Night charity event hosted by Loch Ranch Highland Club has resulted in a donation of £2,000 being made to SCAA from the proceeds.
Students in the NC Administration Group A class at Perth College UHI organised a sponsored three-legged race and bake sale and raised £358.49 for the airborne charity.
End of the year can counting at SCAA saw locally placed collection cans spill out significant amounts to support the charity.
The final counting of the year included full cans from: Atholl Arms Hotel, Dunkeld £45.27; Eric’s Burger Van, Inveralmond Industrial Estate, Perth £49.28; the Horn Cafe, Errol £44.61; The Plaice To Be fish and chip shop, Pitlochry £98.27; The Royal Bar, Perth £77.10 and Air Aluinn Guesthouse, Pitlochry £75.59.
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Have you been helped by SCAA?
If the charity flew to the aid of you or a loved one, we 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 SCAA’s is making better than the people whose lives have been touched by the fast-response emergency service.
Share your personal story by contacting media@scaa. org.uk