An emergency response to a road traffic accident near Birkhall on Royal Deeside this week marked the milestone 7,000thcall out for Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA).
The charity-funded life-saving service scrambled a helicopter air ambulance from its Aberdeen base to the remote and rural location after a woman was trapped and injured in her van which left the road and overturned.
SCAA landed in an adjacent field as firefighters were cutting the injured woman from the wreckage. SCAA paramedics then worked with road ambulance crew colleagues from the Scottish Ambulance Service to treat the patient and airlift her to the Major Trauma Centre at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
The flight took less than 20 minutes – as opposed to a road journey of around 80 minutes – ensuring the injured woman received vital hospital care in the fastest possible time.
Russell Mackay, SCAA’s Operations Manager, said that while the mission marked a milestone for the charity, everyone’s thoughts were with the injured woman.
“We’re so pleased SCAA was available to attend for what must have been a painful and anxious experience for the patient and her family,” he said. “Everyone at SCAA wishes her a speedy and full recovery.”
Mr Mackay said that the landmark call out fell in what is traditionally the busiest time of the year for the country’s only charity air ambulance service.
“The summer always sees a rise in demand for our two helicopters based at Perth and Aberdeen,” he said. “This incident was one of three call outs for the Aberdeen crew that day.
“In the past month alone, our crews have been tasked to attend serious illness and injury on 68 occasions, taking them to all parts of Scotland and to emergencies ranging from industrial and equestrian accidents, road traffic collisions and sports injuries to heart attacks, strokes and falls,” added Mr Mackay.
“Our involvement at Birkhall this week was yet another example of our partnership working with other emergency responders in order to achieve the best patient outcomes and fastest delivery of care,” he said. “Whether operating as part of a multi-service response – or as the sole responder at an emergency – SCAA has proved invaluable to the people of Scotland and our 7,000th call out allows us a chance to reflect on the many we have helped and all who have helped us.
“SCAA believes no one in Scotland should die because help can’t get there in time and this significant milestone 7,000th call out - and the thousands of lives we have saved and impacted on positively during our 12 years in service - is due entirely to the generous support of the public and the many trusts, foundations, businesses and organisations who recognise the vital service we provide,” said Russell. “We owe them all a huge debt of gratitude as we mark the 7,000 responses made possible by their donations.”
