Busy start to 2019 for SCAA

Perthshire-based Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) has had a busy end to 2018 and a similarly demanding start to 2019 with daily call outs.

Among the incidents was a Hogmanay emergency on farmland in Angus brought the year’s workload to a close for SCAA.

A man sustained head and back injuries when his all-terrain vehicle rolled over on a hillside while tending his sheep.

The crew has visited Oban, Millport, Islay, Colonsay, and Fife over the past week or so.

Locally, a call out saw the airborne crew arrived within minutes at a medical emergency involving a baby girl in Strathearn. The crew worked with Scottish Ambulance Service colleagues at the scene before the little girl was taken to hospital by land ambulance accompanied by a SCAA teddy.

SCAA was also called to an industrial accident near Bankfoot where a man was injured after being struck by toppling machinery, sustaining severe leg injuries.

Perthshire fundraisers and supporters have not forgotten about SCAA over the festive period with significant donations awaiting charity staff on their return to work.

A pre-Christmas dance held by Coupar Angus Country and Western Music Club raised a toe-tapping £950 for the airborne charity.

And a festive darts day at Auchterarder Golf Club raised significantly more than“180”with a top scoring £305 coming to support SCAA’s lifesaving work.

Members of Perth Ex-Servicemen’s Club staged a fundraising Christmas raffle and drew out a winning £543.82 for SCAA.

Meanwhile, shooters were bagging clays at Meggernie Clay Targets Hogmanay shoot and bringing down a further £191.

And a Christmas lunch enjoyed by the ladies of Orwell and Portmoak Church Guild served up a tasty £90 for SCAA.

Pitlochry Station Bookshop also steamed in a £600 donation for SCAA over the holiday period as festive shoppers took advantage of the railway platform bookshop’s offerings.

Thanks also to the many supporters who generously gave donations to SCAA in lieu of cards and presents this Christmas, delivering a £550 festive charity present instead.

Those keen to support the work of Scotland’s only charity-funded air ambulance continue to pop their loose change and donations into the hundreds of SCAA collecting cans placed around Scotland.

Locally placed cans being emptied at the start of the new year include those from: The Bean Shop, Perth £61.59; the Country Store, Kinloch Rannoch £34.01; Muirton Post Office, Perth £41.01; R W Tech Services, Perth £85.55; Comrie Medical Centre £176.60; Karelia House, Aberfeldy £113.74 and Anne’s Hand-knits, Balbeggie £372.41.

A Perth lady struck lucky in the SCAA Lottery at the start of the year, scooping the £1000 jackpot in the weekly draw.