Thanks to the support of Lions District 105SE Foundation, we’ve been able to replace seven of our highly portable VScan Air hand-held ultrasound units.
These essential pieces of equipment are used by our clinical teams each day.
The portable VScan Air ultrasounds are heavily used in our work, enabling our team to take a non-invasive look inside a patient’s body, helping them to make a quick and accurate diagnosis.
For example, they can see if a patient has blood in their abdomen or if their lungs have collapsed, which can determine what immediate interventions are required as well as the overall clinical management and onward care.
The Lions are continuing their support for KSS this year by raising funds that are helping provide us with newly designed kit bags.
Our primary kit bags are taken on every mission and contain everything needed to treat a patient. They contain a wide range of equipment including ventilators, monitors, ultrasounds, automatic CPR pumps and defibrillators.
They also carry everything needed to control bleeding, deliver blood transfusions, and fix broken limbs. They help our crew arrive quickly on scene with everything they need available easily at hand.
Our existing primary kit bags had been heavily used and needed replacing. Our redesigned bags provide crew to access equipment quicker and easier, even in flight, and are more comfortable to carry to the scene on foot.
Between them the new bags and the scanners will play a vital part in allowing us to continue providing world-leading patient care, increasing the chances of a successful outcome for our patients.
Over the last 11 years, Lions Clubs across the South East have gone above and beyond to raise funds for us, raising over £415K to support our life-saving work.
Fundraising initiatives have included a Swimathon in Horsham, the Hastings Half Marathon, Woking’s Easter Eggstravaganza, a Bluebell walk in Uckfield and proceeds from the Billingshurst Lions Book Shop to name but a few.
In addition, Lions volunteers have raised funds through KSS collection boxes, whatever the weather, at a wide range of events across the region, from Classic Car Shows in Cranleigh and Southborough through to the Farnham Beer Festival.
Kelly Heaton-Ralph our Executive Director of Fundraising and Philanthropy said: “We cannot thank the Lions enough for the support which has allowed us to fund our new portable ultrasound scanners. Over the years they have funded night flying goggles for our pilots when we began flying 24/7, three Rapid Response Vehicles, and two Tempus ALS Systems – vital pieces of kit for monitoring and ensuring the best possible outcomes for our patients.
“It is quite incredible how much they have raised through grass roots fundraising across your 53 Lions Clubs in the region. We are immensely grateful for your ongoing fundraising and awareness raising – letting people in our local communities know about the life-saving pre-hospital emergency care we provide to the 4.8 million people who live in our region.
“Thank you for playing such a major role in keeping our Air Ambulance in the air and our rapid response vehicles on the road, ensuring we can be there for patients, saving lives when every second counts.”
ENDS
