SCAA teddy on dash to hospital
A very sick little girl prompted a flight to Arran by Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) during the past week.
The youngster had to be transferred urgently to mainland hospital care so SCAA headed to the island to airlift their young patient and her mother to Crosshouse Hospital at Kilmarnock. And a SCAA teddy was deployed to help comfort and support the little girl in hospital.
SCAA was back at Arran later in the week to carry out the same journey in an urgent transfer of a male patient to Crosshouse - a short 15 minute flight but a lengthy journey by ferry and road.
The airborne emergency crew also flew to Glenshee this week where a skier sustained shoulder injuries in a fall on the slopes.
SCAA landed at the ski centre and airlifted the injured man to Ninewells Hospital at Dundee for further treatment.
And SCAA paramedics put their fitness to the test when they attended a medical emergency at Pitlochry.
The nearest suitable landing site proved to be the town’s football pitch so paramedics had to make their way from the helicopter on foot with all their kit to assist at the home of the patient.
The patient was then transferred to PRI by land ambulance.
The charity’s rapid response vehicle was also out and about this week. Paramedics attended a sepsis emergency at a home in Perth and one of the SCAA team escorted the patient in the land ambulance to hospital.
* * * Local supporters and fundraisers continue to play their part in ensuring SCAA’s vital life-saving service stays in the air.
Among donations handed in to the Perth Airport base this week was from a local co-ordinator with British Eventing £307.94 from the sale of programmes at a recent event.
Members of the Scottish Aero Club held a collection following a talk by SCAA senior pilot Captain Russell Myles this week on his work with the charity helicopter, raising £106.72.
Local volunteers joined charity staff to help man collection points at Edinburgh Airport recently, gathering £652.02 from supportive passengers passing through the complex.
SCAA is Edinburgh Airport’s charity partner for 2018 so look out for our branding as you head off on business or to the sun.
SCAA continues to benefit from the support of Knockhill Racing Circuit whose customers are given the chance to donate through their online ticket sales system.
Their latest donation this week takes the total raised through this arrangement to £1,863.
Local motorists using Broxden and Edinburgh Road service stations will be given the chance to donate 25p to SCAA whenever they make a card payment transaction.
This “Pennies” scheme has been rolled out at all stations operated by the fuel forecourt retail company MRH and, to date, their support has attracted over £25,000 for SCAA throughout Scotland.
SCAA collection cans gathered from Perthshire supporters and emptied at the base this week include:
Co-op, Bridge of Earn £16.75; the Green Welly Stop, Tyndrum £118.34 and Kintillo Shop, Bridge of Earn £32.71
* * * Are you up for an exciting adrenaline-fuelled challenge? And have the chance to raise funds for SCAA at the same time?
SCAA has places available on their Forth Rail Bridge abseil challenge on June 10.
One Perth woman has signed up and already secured nearly £430 in sponsorship.
Anyone interested is asked to contact f.dennis@ scaa.org.uk