Air Ambulance NI tasked 106 times to Mid and East Antrim

Throughout lockdown and despite most of us spending more time at home, trauma accidents and incidents continue.

The Air Ambulance NI is still needed on average one or two times daily and since the service started almost three years ago, 106 of those call outs have been to the Mid and East Antrim Borough Council area. That equates to an average of three calls per month.

Air Ambulance NI is the local charity that provides the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for Northern Ireland, together with its partners at the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.

The service brings urgent medical assistance to anywhere in the province, operating seven days a week for 12 hours per day.

Glenn O’Rorke, Operational Lead for the HEMS said: “The HEMS team have been tasked on 1487 occasions since inception less than three years ago.

“Your life can change in an instant, trauma is still here and will continue, despite lockdown and more limited activity in society.

“Whilst the rate of Road Traffic Collisions has slightly reduced, DIY accidents have increased and the rate of farming, industrial and other accidents has remained.

“We encourage everyone not to take unnecessary risks, yet we realise accidents happen.

“If that is the case and we are tasked, the air ambulance can reach anywhere in Northern Ireland in approximately 25 minutes.”

Kerry Anderson, Head of Fundraising with Air Ambulance NI, said: “Air Ambulance NI is your local charity. With your continued support our medics can fly and continue to provide specialist critical care at scene that can be the difference between life and death.

“Each day £5,500 is needed and like every charity, we are experiencing a massive reduction in fundraising. One such example is the M&S store in Ballymena who had chosen Air Ambulance NI as their designated charity with funds raised through bag packs.

“Understandably this has had to be cancelled and means the charity is down on thousands of pounds. Yet we know the helicopter service inspires support and if everyone does a little the air ambulance will be here now and for generations to come.”

One way to support the charity is by becoming a member of Club AANI.

Over 800 people so far have become members. Anyone interested can join at the website, www.airambulanceni.org. or by telephoning the charity on 028 9262 2677.

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