Flying to the aid of a hill walker in distress

Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) flew to a hillside well above Scotland this week to airlift a hill walker suffering severe chest pains.

The helicopter was able to land on flat ground close to the patient, allowing paramedics quick access for treatment and a rapid transfer to advanced care at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Other call outs crew this week have included two road traffic collisions and a cardiac emergency.

The helicopter air ambulance was also deployed on standby for some children trapped in a cave near Dunbar by rising tidewater. SCAA was stood down when the children were rescued safe and well.

SCAA paramedics took part in a training day with the adult ScotSTAR team based at Glasgow this week.

This training was to help develop the Helimed 76 paramedics’skills when SCAA is utilised to transfer critically ill or injured patients from remote and rural areas to more definitive care – working with members of the Emergency Medical Retrieval Service (EMRS).

The day involved familiarisation of syringe pumps, blood products, patient packaging, ventilators and case studies.

A recent charity evening and in-store raffle at Lakeland, Perth, raised £321.50; meanwhile a bake sale staged by staff at Savills Perth office has brought in a further tasty £123.10.

A quiz and curry night at Elmwood Golf Club, Cupar, fired up a further £168.31 for air ambulance funds.

Thanks to members of Lodge Stanley No. 1262 who donated £5000 to SCAA from distribution of the lodge funds.

An Auchterarder man has raised £184.39 for SCAA by inviting donations for the charity in lieu of presents to celebrate his 50th birthday.

A psychic fundraising event staged by the White Rose Spiritualist Church raised £420 and a Blairgowrie couple who gave a tour of their farm and lunch to a group of US animal science students donated £200 to SCAA in lieu of payment. Shooters on Findynate Estate near Strathtay have been aiming high for SCAA this season.

They raised £280 for the air ambulance charity at their first three shoots.

Other donations gratefully received include £300 from a Scone lady and £400 from a lady in Cupar in memory of a loved one.

There are many different ways supporters choose to donate to SCAA each week.

Individual giving through Facebook, for example, has raised £449 in the past week alone, while a further £114.05 has come through Amazon Smile.

And thanks to those who donate their foreign currency to the SCAA collection box in the baggage reclaim hall at Edinburgh Airport – £1500.64 has been raised during the last quarter.

Others donate when they learn of the work SCAA does through talks to their groups and organisations.

Members of Callander Kirk Guild collected £321.90 for SCAA following their recent presentation.

Donating unwanted textiles to a dedicated SCAA collection point also helps boost funds - £19.60 was raised through the recent emptying of the clothing bin at Perth College UHI.

Thanks also to everyone who pops their loose change into SCAA collection cans throughout Scotland.

Cans located at premises in Perth and Kinross emptied this week include: Tummel Valley Holiday Park £32.80; Adele Key Hair Salon, Perth Airport £36.61; Dunallan Guest House, Perth £145.41; Errol Bowling Club £89.06; Falls of Dochart Retirement Home, Killin £18.49; Home Bargains, Perth £67.20 and SCAA reception at Perth Airport £60.09.

Look out for SCAA volunteers manning the final bucket collection of the year at Edinburgh Airport this coming Monday.

Collectors will be inviting donations from those passing through the main airport check-in concourse.

The 1st Scone Boys Brigade will learn all about the work of SCAA when they have a talk by a volunteer at their meeting on December 6 at 7.15pm in Burnside Halls at Scone Old Church.