Meet the air ambulance team as their roadshow hits Sleaford

Air Ambulance charities across the country are once again coming together to celebrate National Air Ambulance Week (NAAW) which takes place between September 19 - 25.

NAAW is an initiative created by the Association of Air Ambulances (AAA) and celebrates the work of local Air Ambulance charities, giving them a national voice and an opportunity to promote the work they do at a local level.

Together, the UK’s Air Ambulance charities raise £120 million a year, operate 37 helicopters, have a volunteer network of over 2,500 people and are one of the most exciting and innovative group of organisations in the UK.

Many are investing funds to expand their operations, increasing operating hours to provide night HEMS missions, upgrading to larger aircrafts, increasing medical capabilities with the carriage of blood products and investing in the advanced education and training of their paramedics and doctors.

This year, the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance is urging the public to get involved by coming to visit them during their Lincolnshire Roadshow which will reach Sleaford Market Place on Monday September 19 from 10am until 3pm.

The charity will be touring Lincolnshire with their staff and volunteers. Setting up in 11 different towns, the charity hopes local communities will pop by to say hello, have a chat, buy a tombola ticket and find out how everyone can help save a life. From volunteering opportunities and fundraising ideas, to getting to know more about our vital life saving service, the charity hopes the tour will be a great success.

They are also hoping that people will bring along items that the charity could sell to raise much-needed funds. They are asking people to search their sheds, attics and garages for quality items the charity could use in raffles and tombolas, or sell in their shops.

More information can be found at: www.ambucopter.org.uk/NAAW

Karen Jobling, Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance CEO said: “National Air Ambulance Week has now become a regular feature on people’s event calendars and there are so many different ways that people can get involved.

“Some of our supporters hold mufti or dress down days at school or within the workplace and others organise their own events or set themselves a challenge and ask their friends to sponsor them.

“We’re hoping that members of our communities will come along to support our Roadshow. They can be dressed in whatever they like! We just want to talk with and say thank you to everyone out there who helps keep our Ambucopter flying and saving lives everyday.”

Karen explained: “The number of incidents where the skills of an Air Ambulance team are needed is rapidly increasing, as is the number of serious road traffic incidents which involve multiple casualties. This often means that more than one Air Ambulance is tasked to the scene of an incident and increasingly our Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance crew are working alongside other Air Ambulances from different regions. This borderless tasking and mutual aid play a significant role in benefitting our Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire patients.”