National Air Ambulance Week 2018 #NAAW2018

This year, National Air Ambulance Week (NAAW) runs from 10^th until 16^th September.

NAAW is a chance for all of the member charities of Air Ambulance Association (AAA), including us, to promote our work, giving us a national voice. We receive fantastic support every single day from the community, businesses and GWAAC friends. NAAW is also the opportunity to promote all of the hard work which goes on not only during this week, but every single day of the year. We get the chance to highlight the key aspects of our service and publicise the need for the service and the fact that we are a charity.

What could you do for your local air ambulance during NAAW? Perhaps that fundraising challenge or event you have always thought of doing! It can be fun, quirky, colourful and unique; it can be classic; it can be simple. You can go at it alone, with friends or family, all for a lifesaving cause. You can also simply share social media posts or share stories with your friends and family about what we do.

GWAAC, your local air ambulance, provides Critical Care for the 2.1 million people across the counties of Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, North Somerset and surrounding areas. We attend the most critical incidents across the region by helicopter or by one of our two Critical Care cars. Our team consists of a highly trained and experienced Pilot, a Specialist Paramedic in Critical Care and a Critical Care Doctor. From emergency blood transfusions to roadside amputations or treating cardiac arrests, our crew specialise in Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine and Trauma Medicine, bringing the skills and expertise of an Accident and Emergency Department to the patient. Last year the team attended 1,824 jobs. As a charity we need to raise over £3 million each year to stay operational, but receive no day to day funding from the Government or National Lottery.

“Everyone was in the right place at the right time, and I was very lucky. Thanks to the expert care I received my children still have a dad, and my grandchildren a Grandpa around too.” Trevor Hing was running some errands when he collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest. Read his story here.

“We just want to say a big thank you to Cosmo and James for looking after Aurora-Mae, and also for keeping me calm and reassuring me. They were amazing.” Aurora-Mae’s mum, Samantha. Aurora-Mae suffered a seizure when GWAAC were called to her aid. Read more here.

It is people like Trevor and Aurora-Mae, people like you and me, that need GWAAC’s help every day. We rely on the generous public to keep our charity going, and to get our specialist crew to these patients.

In 2018 we have celebrated our 10^th birthday, carried out 1,238 jobs (January-September), and launched our exciting and significant Buy our Base appeal. We look forward to the remaining months of the year, to continuing to provide our service for every one of the 2.1 million people in our area.

NAAW is the time to show your support for your local air ambulance! See our ‘How to Help’ section of our website.

Join the conversation, Tweet us @gwaac using #NAAW2018 and let us know what being a GWAAC supporter means to you.