Cambridge Edition November 2021 - Newsletter

ADVERT I SEMENT FEATURE

MORE THAN JUST AN AIR AMBULANCE As our Charity of the Year partnership with East Anglian Air Ambulance draws to a close, here’s a summary of what we’ve learnt during our exciting collaboration

they’re always developing their equipment and treatments offered. • The clinical teams undertake research to share their expertise internationally, and help evaluate, compare and improve patient care. • In July, EAAA experienced its busiest month in four years and started flying 24/7 for the first time. • The charity needs to raise £15 million a year to deliver and develop the life-saving service, and receives no regular government funding. • EAAA attends more cardiac arrests than any other type of emergency, and is committed to increasing the number of people trained in CPR and using a defibrillator.

• Operating from Cambridge and Norwich, the teams are tasked almost 3,000 times a year, by air or road, to the most seriously ill or injured people in the region. • EAAA is more than just a flying ambulance. Its doctors and critical care paramedics are all highly trained in emergency and critical care, providing enhanced hospital- level treatments at the scene. • Depending on the patient location and available landing sites, it can be quicker to get to someone by rapid response vehicle (which is the same yellow colour as the helicopter and carries all of the same equipment). • EAAA’s dedicated Aftercare Team liaise with the crew, hospitals and patients to provide ongoing support. This two-way communication helps the patient and crews alike, often leading to reunions between patients and the people who treated them. • EAAA is committed to the very best care for patients. To achieve this,

A huge well done and thank you to everyone who supported EAAA in Cambridge’s Chariots of Fire in September, organised by HCR Hewitsons Charitable Trust. The EAAA team ran with a defibrillator, rather than a baton, to raise further awareness of the chain of survival in the event of a cardiac arrest – and still completed the race (consisting of six runners relaying 1.7-mile stints) in one hour, 16 mins, 20 secs, finishing in 44th place. Over £40,000 has been raised via the 200 teams which took part in the relay. This will fund the charity to deliver more life-saving CPR training across the county. CHARIOTS OF FIRE

Next month will be our last EAAA feature, where we’ll reflect on key achievements over the past year – and how you can best support EAAA this Christmas.

CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK NOVEMBER 2021 85

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