SCAA crew getting busier

Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) responded to 41 emergency call outs during May this year - a 34 per cent increase on their May workload last year.

And June is already off to a busy start with a further 10 missions in the past week alone.

SCAA flew to a mountain bike accident in a forest near Stirling this week and was fortunate to have Ochil Mountain Rescue Team training in the area to provide essential help at the scene. Paramedics had to walk over extremely uphill, rough terrain for about half a mile to reach the casualty from the nearest possible helicopter landing spot and were relieved when the MRT arrived and helped land and air crew convey the injured biker to the aircraft.

The patient, suffering leg and back injuries, was then flown to Ninewells Hospital at Dundee.

Earlier that same day, SCAA flew to Kingussie where a woman sustained pelvic and arm injuries after being thrown from her horse in a remote area. SCAA paramedics worked with Scottish Ambulance Service land crew colleagues before airlifting the injured woman to Raigmore Hospital at Inverness.

The helicopter landed close to the River Isla gorges near Alyth where a man fell around 15 ft onto rocks at Reekie Linn.

SCAA airlifted the patient, who suffered facial injuries in the fall, to Ninewells Hospital at Dundee.

SCAA paramedics also helped a man who injured his shoulder in a mountain bike accident on the East Lomond Hills near Falkland. He was then helped off the hills to a waiting land ambulance which took him to hospital.

A man suffering breathing difficulties saw SCAA take to the air for Aberfeldy where they airlifting the patient for advanced hospital care to Ninewells.

*** Local supporters and fundraisers have played a key part in funding the charity over the past five years - and continue to do so.

Donations coming in this week from Perthshire supporters include £570 from a Scone couple who asked for donations in lieu of presents at their recent diamond wedding celebrations.

Thanks also to longstanding supporter and fundraiser Meg Farron from Pitlochry who held a bake sale at the town Co-op recently and raised a tasty £937 for SCAA.

Collecting cans placed in the busy food store have spilled out a further £599 when they were emptied this week.

Other SCAA collecting cans emptied and counted this week include those from House of Bruar retail complex which contained £761.46 and £36.22 from Airlie Street Bar in Alyth.

Thanks also to a Perthshire woman who took time to think of SCAA during a recent family bereavement and donated £200 in memory of her loved one.

*** Kenmore will be the hub of activity surrounding the Rob Roy Challenge which takes place there on Saturday, June 23. SCAA is delighted to be one of the charities chosen to benefit from this year’s event and supporters are being encouraged to take part in one of the three bike and hike challenges. Visit https://www.scaa. org.uk/support-us/ fundraise/take-part-ina-fundraising-event/ rob-roy-challenge