During this year’s Air Ambulance Week, which takes off across the UK from Monday 4th to Sunday 10th September, we are sharing the vital message that `We can’t save lives without you’.
The national awareness week, organised by Air Ambulances UK, sees KSS and other air ambulance charities right across the UK join together to shine a light on our vital work and highlight how we rely on public support to save lives every day.
We respond to an average of nine emergency calls a day across Kent, Surrey and Sussex. Our specialised doctors and paramedics deliver life-saving treatment, such as open heart surgery, blood transfusions and emergency anaesthetic, to people who suddenly become seriously injured or ill at the scene.
Each lifesaving mission costs on average around £3,700 and is funded almost entirely by the generosity of people within our communities. Last year two thirds (64%) of our charity’s missions were in helicopters, a third (36%) using its Rapid Response Vehicles.
The most common type of incidents we attend are Road Traffic Collisions (30%), Accidental Injuries (22%) and Medical Emergencies (27%).
During Air Ambulance Week, KSS is encouraging people all over Kent, Surrey and Sussex to support our charity to ensure it can continue to save the lives of people like Noel Miles who was involved in a serious road traffic collision on his way to work by motorbike.
Noel says: “A car drove across the flow of traffic straight into me, with the biggest shunt you could ever imagine. The next thing I knew, I was lying on the ground and couldn’t feel my legs. I quickly realised that my injuries were severe and that I was fighting for my life.
“The air ambulance crew saved my life, and they do an amazing job. I’m one person of thousands that KSS has made a difference to.”
David Welch, our Chief Executive, says: “It costs over £45K a day to run our life-saving charity, bringing the emergency department to our patients when every second counts towards survival.
“This is only made possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters raising the vital funds needed to get our life-saving crew to where they’re needed the most 24/7, 365 days a year. Without your support, we can’t save lives.”
To support us now, visit aakss.org.uk/donate
