Great Western Air Ambulance Charity Responds to Record Number of Incidents in First Half of 2024
Almondsbury, UK – Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) has reported a record number of call-outs in the first half of 2024. The charity’s specialist crew responded to 1,159 people in urgent need of critical care between January 1 and June 30, a 21% increase from the same period in the previous year.
With this trend, GWAAC is on track for a record-breaking year with an expected 400 more call-outs compared to 2023. On average, this means an extra person every day who requires the specialized skills of GWAAC’s Critical Care Team.
Tim Ross-Smith, GWAAC’s Operations Officer, noted the unpredictable nature of emergencies, stating, “Nobody plans to need an air ambulance or Critical Care Team being called out to them but we’re seeing more and more people who have needed our help.”
The charity’s operating costs have also increased, with an average cost of £2,200 per mission, a 10% increase from previous years. This is a significant challenge for the Almondsbury-based air ambulance and critical care service.
Ross-Smith emphasized the importance of regular donations to keep the charity prepared for any emergency. “We’re asking the public to consider giving us a regular donation so that we can continue to be prepared well into the future. You can help us be there for anyone, anywhere, anytime,” he said.
In addition to the overall increase in call-outs, GWAAC has also seen a rise in responses to babies, children, and teenagers. These calls made up 19% of the total missions in the first half of 2024, a 52% increase from the same period in 2023. The crew also responded to almost double the number of babies, from 26 to 50.
The charity has also noted a rise in call-outs for individuals who have collapsed or have been involved in stabbing-related incidents. While these types of calls make up a small percentage of GWAAC’s total missions, the number of these incidents has increased significantly. Calls for collapsed individuals have increased by 85% and stabbing-related incidents by 75% compared to the same period in 2023.
Furthermore, GWAAC’s crew has been responding to more patients using their critical care cars, with a 7% increase from the previous year. This means the crew traveled to more than three-quarters of patients in a car rather than the helicopter.
To learn more about GWAAC’s missions and how to support their lifesaving work, visit their website at www.gwaac.com.
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