Sunday, January 29, 2017

LINCS & NOTTS AIR AMBULANCE HAS BUSIEST YEAR TO DATE & BRIGG HELPS WITH FUNDRAISING


A good deal of fundraising goes on in the Brigg area for the Air Ambulance which can be called to life-threatening emergencies.
Brigg Blog has given coverage to cheque presentations at which Trevor Cherry, from Scawby Brook, has presided for this very worthy charity.
Our messsage is: Please give generously to the cause. It could be you or friends and family may one day need to assistance of the Air Ambulance.

FROM MARIE WILLIAMSON, MEDIA & PR OFFICER

The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, which responds to life-threatening emergency calls across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, undertook 1,009 missions during 2016 – 95 more than the previous year.
The Helicopter Emergency Medical Service responds to some of the most serious incidents across the two counties including road traffic collisions, cardiac arrests, farming, industrial & agricultural incidents, sporting & horse riding accidents and many more. The service treats both adults and children. 
 The infamous yellow Ambucopter can reach any corner of the two counties in less than 20 minutes and our highly skilled team of Doctors and Paramedics deliver the same level of care that you would expect from a hospital emergency department. We also have a Rapid Response Vehicle enabling us to respond to far more emergencies than ever before – something that is reflected in the number of missions undertaken last year.
CEO Karen Jobling, said: “Every week I hear inspiring, heart-warming of people whose lives we have saved.  One such person is Michael Govier, who recently came to visit the charity and crew to share his story. “

July 29, 2016, was a day like any other for Michael Govier. It was 4.30pm and he had just finished work as a water sports instructor and was about to cycle home to Bracebridge, Lincoln, where his partner Melissa Hearn and their 13-month old son Evelyn were waiting for him. It was a short journey that he had made many times before. Although it was a summer’s day, the weather had taken a turn for the worse and during the short ride home along Newark Road, towards the Doddington Road junction it had started to rain.
Michael explains: “I thought about stopping and putting my waterproof trousers on, but I glanced at my watch and was making good time. I was going to be home soon so I decided that rather than spend time stopping and putting on my waterproof trousers I would just carry on.” That was the last thing he remembered before waking up two days later in Queen’s Medical Centre. Nottingham. Unknown to Michael he has been in the wrong place at the wrong time and had been hit by a car. His head had taken the force of the impact when he collided with the car’s windshield before ricocheting off. 
The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance was dispatched. Paramedic Roger Linnell and Dr Simon Topham jumped into the team’s Rapid Response vehicle and went on ahead while Pilot Paul Smith and Paramedic Jane Pattison followed in the helicopter. Roger explained: “When Simon and I arrived, the helicopter had already landed. We got to Michael at the same time. It was obvious he was in a bad way. He had a serious head injury, you could see the swelling getting bigger as we looked at it. Dr Topham to put Michael into a medically induced coma which allowed us to administer drugs to stop the swelling on his brain, take over his breathing and administer pain relief.”
While the crew was battling to save Michael’s life, the rain was beating down on them. They had moved Michael to a nearby driveway partially sheltered by trees and bystanders and police officers were attempting to hold tarpaulins over the crew while they worked.  Due to the severity of Michael’s injuries he needed to be taken to Queen’s Medical Centre urgently where a full medical team would be on hand. The weather meant that the helicopter could not make the journey so Roger and Dr Topham travelled with Michael in the land ambulance as Jane followed in a car behind.
Miraculously, Michael was in ICU for just two days followed by 5 days on a specialist trauma and neurology ward. He was able to leave hospital less than a week after the collision. He explained: “Most of that day is now a blank, I have no idea what happened after I checked my watch. I was told that I was very seriously injured, but all I remember is waking up in hospital and being very annoyed that they had cut off my jacket and rucksack. One of my first question was to ask if my bike was OK. I still suffer really bad headaches from my head injury and had some fantastic bruising over my body. Without the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance I really believe I would not be here now to see my son grow up.”
Just five months after the accident, although the physical scars have healed, mentally Michael is still coming to terms with the accident and is only now starting to be able to piece together what happened, thanks to people like the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance crew who treated him. Talking to the crew has helped Michael to better understand what happened and help his recovery. He still has a long way to go, but is determined to make it.

Karen added: “This remarkable story is one of many that we hear. As we are a Charity these stories are only possible thanks to the support of the people in Lincs & Notts who help us raise a significant amount of money every year to ensure the Ambucopter remains operational and saving lives every day. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all of these people.”
Throughout 2017 the Charity will need to raise £2.5million. The year is already set to be an exciting time for the Charity as it prepares to take delivery of its new AgustaWestland 169 aircraft – something only possible thanks to the continued support of the people of Lincs & Notts since 1994.
To find out more about this essential life-saving charity or to donate, visit www.ambucopter.org.uk

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