Stormy trip for island rescuers
Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) battled through the country’s storms over two days to reach an injured woman on the island of Colonsay.
The air ambulance touched down at Islay to refuel but found itself hemmed in by deteriorating conditions, forcing an overnight stay on the island.
The following morning the team again faced challenging conditions as it succeeded in making the final hop to Colonsay and airlifted the woman to advanced care at Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, avoiding worse weather at Glasgow’s hospitals.
SCAA’s efforts ensured the patient reached hospital when all other transport options were impossible due to the stormy weather.
SCAA was called to airlift an injured walker who had taken a tumble on the Ochil Hills.
The helicopter was able to land close to the patient at the fairly inaccessible location, joining colleagues from the Scottish Ambulance Service and its Special Operations Response Team, before airlifting the injured woman to Ninewells Hospital at Dundee.
SCAA paramedics again worked with SAS colleagues when they flew to a medical emergency in the Grandtully area at the weekend. The patient was taken to hospital by road, freeing SCAA up for a second emergency that day - this time a cardiac emergency at Killin.
The pilot again battled challenging weather conditions to rendezvous with a land crew at Loch Earn and airlift the patient on to critical care at Ninewells Hospital.
And SCAA deployed its rapid response vehicle to a road traffic accident at Scone this week.
Paramedics worked with Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, Scottish Ambulance Service and a Special Operations Response Team at the four-vehicle collision, assisting in treating the multiple casualties suffering minor injuries.
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The Scone-based International Police Association has chosen SCAA for a fifth year to support through its annual ceilidh weekend held recently at Kingussie.
The event raised an arresting £1462, bringing the association’s total support of SCAA to date to £6084.50.
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Christmas fundraisers continue to deliver donations to the air ambulance charity.
A giant Lindt chocolate Santa was raffled off by the Stanley Store, raising a festive £170.25 for SCAA. And a ladies’ Christmas social evening hosted by Lodge Carse of Gowrie Number 871 saw a further £60 sent SCAA’s way.
It was celebration of the Bard that resulted in Braes of Ranch Church donating £158 to SCAA following a Burns Lunch, while £100 was donated by the Chapelhill Inn raised through a raffle at a recent quiz night.
Thanks also to members of the Strathardle and Area Vintage Vehicle Club who donated £240 to SCAA following a tour of the Morris Leslie Vintage Car Collection.
Pitlochry Station Bookshop continues on track with its amazing support of SCAA. The latest £300 donation brings the total to date to £37,741.27.
Meanwhile a further £150 has been donated to the charity from Bertha Preceptory of Knights Templar and Perth Inner Link members kindly donated £154.39 following a talk to the club on the work of SCAA.