Air Ambulance Charities Can’t Save Lives Without You!

Air Ambulance Week 2023 takes off across the UK from 4 – 10th September, with air ambulance charities across the UK delivering the vital message that Air Ambulance charities can’t save lives without you!

 Air Ambulance Week is the only week in the year dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the vital lifesaving work of air ambulance charities and is organised by Air Ambulances UK, the national charity supporting the lifesaving work of the UK’s air ambulance charities, enabling them to save even more lives every day. 

The event also highlights that anyone, anywhere in the UK can become a patient at any time. Air ambulance charities collectively make over 30,000 lifesaving missions each year across the UK. There are 37 air ambulance helicopters in the UK operated by 21 air ambulance charities, providing pre-hospital care support to the NHS and forming an important part of the UK’s frontline emergency services. 

Air ambulance crews bring the Emergency Department to patients who have suffered a life threatening or life changing trauma or medical emergency; providing specialist critical care to save lives. The UK’s 21 air ambulance charities receive no day-to-day government funding and depend almost entirely on charitable donations to deliver their lifesaving care. 

On average an air ambulance can reach someone in urgent need within 15 minutes. Air ambulance charities are collectively dispatched to over 102 lifesaving missions each day across the UK. Each lifesaving mission by air costs on average £3,962[SA1] [SA2] * and are funded almost entirely by donations. That’s why we can’t save lives without you and why Air Ambulances UK is calling on people all over the UK to support their local air ambulance to ensure air ambulance charities continue to save lives every day. 

Air Ambulance charities can't save lives without you, and thanks to your support Hannah Babe was airlifted by Air Ambulance Northern Ireland after being involved in a road traffic collision. Hannah suffered a fracture to the back of her skull with a small brain bleed amongst other injuries. Hannah said “Having seen the state that my car was in, I am extremely lucky to be here today. I am now a volunteer for the charity and encourage you to support in any way you can. Without the air ambulance I wouldn’t be here today and I will be forever grateful for everything that they have done”. 

To watch Hannah’s full story along with many other patient stories visit the Air Ambulances UK website: https://www.airambulancesuk.org/air-ambulance-week/ 

Simmy Akhtar Air Ambulances UK’s CEO said: “As charities that almost completely rely on donations, we are encouraging everyone to support their local air ambulance during Air Ambulance Week. By supporting us and your local air ambulance you will be ensuring patients such as Hannah can continue to receive advanced pre-hospital care when a sudden life-threatening injury or medical illness occurs.”  

To show your support for Air Ambulance Week, you can make a one-off donation to Air Ambulances UK by visiting www.airambulancesuk.org/donate-now/, or get in direct contact with your local air ambulance charity. 

Your support, however large or small, will make a lifesaving difference.