Background.
The service was founded by Kate Chivers in 1989 as the Kent Air Ambulance Service, becoming the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance in 2007 attending more than 2000 incidents last year, bringing A & E to the scene with critical care paramedics and a doctor.
The breakdown of incidents is Road traffic 44%; Accidental 27%; Medical Emergency 13%; Sport/Leisure 4% of which equine accidents are the highest and Others 12% made up of assaults, attempted suicide, knife attacks, accidental gunshot wounds.
Often able to treat at the scene, not always flying to hospital.
There are some 2000 calls to 999 every day and an average of 6 calls require the air ambulance every 24 hours.
The decision to call the air ambulance is predicated on there being a major trauma which means broken ribs, spine, pelvis, femur or head injury.
The helicopter is airborne in 4 minutes from the alert and the police may also be called to close a road. The latest helicopters are fitted with full computer tracking equipment.
The Aviation Team
Consists of 2 pilots with commercial pilot licences, one with a minimum of 1000 hours experience and the second pilot with a minimum of 500 hours.
Medics
A senior registrar or consultant from a major trauma hospital with specialist anaesthetic and emergency medication knowledge. In addition, there is a paramedic with a minimum of 8 years hospital experience.
Ongoing training is held at Redhill airport which includes a helicopter simulator. New equipment is assessed every month as to its usefulness.
The medical team is capable of carrying out surgical procedures normally only done in hospital such as tracheotomy, tracheoscopy, amputation and even open heart surgery and Dave told a harrowing story of a patient from abroad whose parents were able to reach their daughters side before she died because of open heart surgery on a pavement allowing her to survive for 3 weeks.
Major Trauma Centres
St Georges Hospital, Kings College Hospital, Southampton Hospital and Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. One of these will always be within 20-minute flight time.
HQ
The main hub is based at Redhill airport in conjunction with Special Air Services. There is a smaller hub Rochester.
Innovations
2005 Doctor on board
2007 Service extended to Surrey and Sussex
2013 Carry blood on board and becomes a 24/7 service
2017 First new helicopter AW169
2018 Second new AW169 helicopter. These are larger machines with a bigger patient access door with turntable and cantilever for the stretcher plus space for one relative.
180 mph, 40 mph faster than the previous machine. Has 5 blades which are never lower than 12 ft off the ground so there is no delay in getting off at the site.
These machines are equipped with night flying equipment but it is still necessary to explore safe landing sites as night flight data is very much two-dimensional. So far some 1500 sites have been identified.
If the weather is too bad for flight, there is a fully equipped vehicle to take to the scene.
Future
Trialling fast transfers from hospital to hospital where necessary as a service that would be paid for by the NHS.
Trial of Swiss equipment to enable take-off in any weather.
Last year there were over 2000 incidents the current expectation is that this year will see 2400.
Cost
£11 million a year. Each call out costs £3700. The kit costs £325 and even the boots cost £75. When talking with children one saving that they can appreciate is in the use of £1 bubble wrap to keep patients warm. Better than the conventional blankets, cheaper and lighter and something the children can relate to.
How the public can help
Volunteers so important for their gift of time. Each person who has seen this talk should tell at least 3 people to spread the word. Become a registered donor. Leave a legacy.
Go to aakss.org.uk to read more and donate.
