East Anglian Air Ambulance, a charity providing lifesaving critical care every day of the year across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, has announced that their crews treated 1,845 people, including 151 people under the age of 18, last year. An average of five people every day.
One of those was 13-year-old Jaden from Norwich who suffered a significant leg injury in a motocross accident in Norfolk. The on-site medical team attended quickly, the emergency services were called and the East Anglian Air Ambulance Anglia One (Norwich) crew were tasked by helicopter to bring urgent care to Jaden directly at the scene. The ambulance service was able to control Jaden’s bleeding, and the East Anglian Air Ambulance crew administered advanced medication before flying Jaden to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, where he needed surgery.
Jaden’s Mum, Gemma Waller, says, “He was lucky as the laceration was an inch away from a major artery, which would have been a completely different ball game. You always think you won’t need the air ambulance. But Jaden was very lucky; he was wearing all the correct protective gear and is here to tell the tale.”
Gemma adds, “East Anglian Air Ambulance means a lot to us as a family. They got to Jaden quickly, dealt with him in a professional way and got him to hospital for the right treatment and care.
Whether by air or road, East Anglian Air Ambulance brings hospital-level care to the most seriously ill and injured people in our region, 24/7. From blood transfusions and pain relief to anaesthesia and emergency surgery, the charity’s doctors and paramedics give patients the best chance of survival and recovery. They also offer practical and emotional support with patient and families recovery journeys, train people in lifesaving skills, and carry out clinical research to keep improving care.
Among the 1,845 people who were treated by East Anglian Air Ambulance crews across the region last year were 563 people who had suffered a cardiac arrest, 348 people who had been injured in a road accident, and 403 people who had suffered a medical emergency such as a serious respiratory or neurological condition. The charity’s busiest month was August, with 166 people treated.
“When someone needs us, it’s usually the worst moment of their life, and their families,” said Luke Chamberlain, Clinical Lead with East Anglian Air Ambulance. “Last year, crews from our Norwich and Cambridge bases provided urgent treatment and care to 1,845 people. We’re fuelled entirely by donations, without any regular government funding, so support from the public powers every single mission. Every flight, every piece of equipment, and every second chance is made possible by the communities we’re proud to serve.”
Each emergency tasking costs, on average, £4,250.
