Donate to save lives in future

Isaac Hoey is one lucky boy.

Not only does he have cool-headed parents with a knowledge of CPR, but also lives in an age where the Great North Air Ambulance Service does wonders for the public.

Unless things change, other youngsters may not be so lucky.

But let’s be grateful for this uplifting (in more ways than one) news story.

As we reveal today, the six-week-old suffered a lifethreatening turn during a bout of bronchitis which saw him stop breathing and turn blue while out in the remote Lake District.

Luckily mum Helen had some basic knowledge of CPR but still needed the help of emergency services.

They dialled 999 and dad Steven was able, under instruction from the experts, to perform CPR to get Isaac breathing again.

Time, however, was still of the essence, which is where the air ambulance stars come into their own.

Even though the family, with the stricken Isaac were miles from help, the air ambulance was able to get them all to the right hospital at a speed that impressed. “We couldn’t believe how quickly they came,” said mum Helen, “and we are so grateful for everything they did for us.”

Learning just the basics of CPR could save a life, yet too many of us put it off. It’s not worth it.

There are online tutorials and plenty of courses available to put you right.

As for the Air Ambulance itself, people often forget it is wholly funded by donations, and it doesn’t come cheap. It needed more than £5million to survive last year.

As Helen pointed out: You don’t know how valuable they are until you need them.

Donate today, and ensure more, like Isaac, are lucky survivors in the future.