Lions Clubs grant allows GWAAC to purchase vital equipment during COVID-19 - Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
Volunteer week
Community Blog – Volunteer Week
June 4, 2020
Community blog: Community is Strength, Community is Kindness
June 12, 2020
Volunteer week
Community Blog – Volunteer Week
June 4, 2020
Community blog: Community is Strength, Community is Kindness
June 12, 2020

Lions Clubs grant allows GWAAC to purchase vital equipment during COVID-19

Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) have received a grant of over £8,000 from The Lions Clubs International Foundation to enable them to purchase vital equipment to keep both crew and patients safe during COVID-19.

The foundation’s grant has enabled the frontline charity to purchase a new non-contact temperature screening system enable us to quickly identify and isolate anyone showing early signs of fever and prevent them from being in contact with crew or patients. The grant has also paid for an iPad for crews to use to access guidelines and policies whilst on duty – which will adhere to infection control processes so as to minimise risk of contamination. The new equipment forms a fundamental part of creating a COVID-19 secure workplace for both our own employees and visitors.

Lions Clubs’ District Governor for Central and West, Ian Gott, said “We know that air ambulance charities have been busier than ever during the coronavirus pandemic. They’ve faced considerable extra – unbudgeted – day to day costs – at the same time as lockdown has affected fund-raising.  Now, thanks to an emergency COVID-19 relief grant from the Lions Clubs International Foundation, we can provide immediate support for this emergency service that touches lives in all our local communities.”

GWAAC provides the critical care and air ambulance services across Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire. Despite the lockdown, their crew of Specialist Paramedics and Critical Care Doctors are still right here and ready to respond to those in urgent need across the region.

As well as their ‘day job’ – responding to accidents, traumatic incidents and medical emergencies – GWAAC have been and continue to support the COVID-19 response to help reduce the pressure on the NHS and other public services.

National organisation, Air Ambulances UK, worked closely with the Lions Club International Foundation to obtain £160,000 of funding, which has supplied equipment to many air ambulances across the UK in order to help them remain safe in the battle against the virus.

Chief Executive of GWAAC, Anna Perry, said: “The grant we have received will make a huge difference to our crew who are working tirelessly to support our local communities on the frontline – in day to day operations, and in response to COVID-19. Our priority is keeping them and the patients they treat safe, and this new equipment will make a huge difference in allowing us to do so.”

If you would like to find out more about how GWAAC has served your communities during lockdown, then you can do so below.

Find out more