Flight for Life Spring 2013

EHAAT.uk.com | 0845 2417 690

Spring 2013 Suggested Donation £1

The Magazine of the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust

inside • Baby Maisie’s patient story • Meet new members of our HEMS Air Crew • Read about our world class cardiac care

in Essex and Herts

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Contents Airlifted patient Ash Kirk’s Story

p4

Paramedic's Wish/Herts Response Car p5 Flight for Life Lottery & Raffle

p6

Leave a Legacy

p7

Volunteer News

p8

New Partnerships

p10

Medical News from our HEMS Team p12/13

Welcome to flight for life magazine...

Dates for your Diary!

...your chance to go behind the scenes of the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust.

Read baby Maisie’s story on page 17

I would like to extend a big thank you to you, our Flight for Life Lottery players, who continue to support the Charity even during these very challenging times. We hope this magazine helps you to discover more about the Charity, and find out where your donations go and what a difference they make to the people of Essex and Hertfordshire.

I’m always so touched to read our airlifted patient stories and in this issue of Flight for Life we have two heart warming tales of how our Air Ambulance Air Crew changed the lives of 23 year old Ash Kirk and 15 month old Maisie Moon – read more about their stories on pages 4 and 17. Patients like these would probably not be here today if it wasn’t for supporters like yourselves keeping our helicopters flying and our Air Crew continuing to be able to save lives.

Speaking of our Air Crew, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome our new members of the HEMS Team – Pilot Garry, HEMS Doctor Ed and HEMS Paramedics Jo, Louise and Erica – you can meet them and learn more about how the people of Essex and Hertfordshire are now benefiting from some of the highest standard pre-hospital cardiac care the world has to offer on pages 12 and 13.

p14/15

Fundraising Opportunites

p16

Baby Maisie’s Miracle Survival

p17

Community Fundraisers / How can you help?

p18

Contact Us Essex General Enquiries 0845 2417 690 Herts General Enquiries 0845 504 0055 Email ContactUs@EHAAT.uk.com Website EHAAT.uk.com Lottery Hotline 0845 2417 688 Lottery Website FlightForLifeLottery.uk.com Advertising – To advertise in flight for life magazine contact Ian Clarke, Saffron Marketing 01603 622790 Email ian@saffron–marketing.com Published by – Saffron Marketing on behalf of the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Trust www.saffron–marketing.com

Photo by Samabar Photography

I hope you enjoy this latest edition of Flight for Life and we would like to thank our advertisers which partly fund our magazine. If you have any comments or suggestions, please do get in touch we’d love to hear from you!

Thank you once again for your continued support and I wish you and your families all the very best in 2013.

Jane Gurney Chief Executive Officer

Editor – Holly Butler Holly@EHAAT.uk.com Design – Follow Cover shot – Thanks to Dr Ben Clarke Branding and selected photography reproduced by kind permission of Perception.co Registered Charity number 1108989

facebook.com/essexairambulance facebook.com/hertsairambulance @essexairamb @hertsairamb

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flight for life | Spring 2013

Ash’s motorcycle

The bus which impacted his motorcycle

Ash Reunited with his HEMS Hero Ash Kirk from Chelmsford was airlifted by the Essex Air Ambulance in May 2012, following a collision with a bus whilst on his motorbike in Great Notley, Essex.

Ash in hospital

Ash spent four weeks in a drug induced coma in the Royal London Hospital. He received emergency surgery to remove his spleen which had sustained massive damage and was treated for numerous internal injuries including laceration to his liver, fractured pelvis and a shattered knee cap; he was

not expected to survive his ordeal.

But only months later Ash is now home and making a speedy recovery. The Charity team recently invited him to the Earls Colne Airbase to be reunited with his HEMS Hero who treated him at the scene. Speaking of his visit to the Essex Air Ambulance Air Base, Ash recalls: “Within a few minutes of arriving at the Air Base a tall guy came in and introduced himself as Laurie and he was the Air Ambulance Paramedic on duty the day I had my accident. He was such a nice and friendly person and explained what he saw when he arrived on the scene of my accident. He told me how I looked, what drugs I was given and how they decided what hospital to airlift me to.

My mum started to cry when she hugged him and I must admit I was starting to well up too. He took us out to see the helicopter and showed me some of the kit I was hooked up to when they put me into the aircraft. Once back inside, Laurie gave me a band

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“I’m really glad they do the work that they do as without them many people would not be here today.” off his own wrist that shows support for our local Air Ambulance.

I couldn’t stop thanking him for the work he does and his simple humble reply was “I’m just glad I could help”. It amazes me how humble the Air Crew of the Air Ambulance are and I’m really glad they do the work that they do as without them many people would not be here today.”

Laurie Phillipson, Essex Air Ambulance HEMS Paramedic, adds: “Meeting Ash and his family really brought home the importance of having prehospital critical care teams available on helicopters. Ash Laurie, Ash and Family was one of those patients that through the efforts of everyone involved in his care, was brought back from the brink of death; nobody expected him to survive.

Ash is an inspiration; he and his family have been through a horrific ordeal and I believe his speedy recovery is as much to do with his positive attitude and the support of his loving family as his medical care. It was a real pleasure to meet such a happy and funny chap.”

flight for life | Spring 2013

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Paramedic’s Dearest Wish Granted

by Air Ambulance East of England Ambulance Service Trust Paramedic Adrien Paine from Colchester, who is currently bravely fighting a brain tumour, had his wish granted when his wife Tracy experienced a non-operational flight on board the Air Ambulance.

Cliff Gale, Operations Director of Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust, adds: “This is a highly unusual request for us and normally we would decline but fortunately the helicopter was due its annual service and was already making the flight from Staverton to North Weald and therefore would not incur any cost to the Charity. So, it was decided that we could provide this once in a lifetime opportunity in support of one of our local East of England Ambulance Service Paramedics” Speaking of her experience, Tracy, said: “The experience of the helicopter flight was amazing, I hadn’t realised it would exceed my expectations as much as it did. It was an absolute pleasure to meet the Pilot Craig who had me feeling at ease.

I would sincerely like to thank everyone who made the experience possible and for making myself and my husband feel very welcome at the Air Base, it truly was an experience I will never forget.”

Essex Emergency 2000 Helping Herts Air Ambulance Save Lives!

Herts Air Ambulance is being backed up with a new response vehicle thanks to the region’s emergency vehicle services and repair specialists, Essex Emergency

Tracy on board the Air Ambulance

Services 2000 Ltd in Romford, Essex.

The Herts Air Crew took delivery of the Volvo 4x4 at North Weald Airfield, home of the Herts Air Ambulance.

Stuart Elms, Clinical Manager for the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance said: “The response car will be used in cases when the helicopter cannot respond due to adverse weather conditions or during unplanned maintenance - meaning the HEMS Air Crew can still reach the scene of an incident and provide the same critical care to the patient. The vehicle carries

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full life-saving equipment exactly like the helicopter. A massive thanks to Essex Emergency Services 2000 who have enabled us to continue to deliver our life–saving work.”

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flight for life | Spring 2013

Lottery & Raffle Meet the Flight for Life Lottery Team!

L–R: Ron Workman, Rose Workman, Janice Flower (Flight for Life Lottery Manager), Linda Doman, Stephen Doman and Garry Brasher (HEMS Pilot)

Double Win in Herts with Flight For Life Lottery!

(From left to right) Jen Townsend (Lottery Administrator), Jenny Beck (Lottery/Finance Administrator) and Janice Flower (Lottery Manager). If you need to contact the Lottery Team, or know someone who would like to join, you can call them weekdays 9-5pm on 0845 2417 688 or email Lotteryadmin@EHAAT.uk.com

Superdraw News!

As a current Flight for Life Lottery member, you will already know that playing the Flight for Life Lottery is one of the best ways to support the Charity and keep the Air Ambulance flying.

It’s really easy to join and by helping save somebody’s life, you could change your own. The Charity would like to thank all our current loyal members for their continued support.

From the 1st of April 2013, our Superdraw numbers are changing.

The range of available numbers will increase from 1 to 45 but you do not need to take any action. Lottery draws will continue to take place weekly as normal and you’ll still be in with a chance of winning up to £25,000! Recently we’ve had winners in Knebworth, Benfleet, Watford, Chelmsford, Hemel Hempstead, Redbourn... could you be our next winner?

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Two lucky winners in Hertfordshire have won the Air Ambulance Flight for Life Lottery Superdraw within two weeks of each other! Mrs Rose Workman of Hemel Hempstead won £5,279 and Mrs Linda Doman of Redbourn won £4,874!

Linda Doman knows just how important the service is as two years ago she experienced first-hand the life-saving work of neighbouring operation, East Anglian Air Ambulance. Linda said: “If it had not been for the Air Ambulance that came to my aid, circumstances following the accident would certainly have been different.”

Rose Workman said: “I had heard of the Air Ambulance as we live near both the M1 and M25, so often hear on the radio about the helicopter being called out. I didn’t however realise they were a Charity.You never know when you or your family will need the Air Ambulance, and £2 a week is a small price to ensure this valued service continues.”

Patient Thank You “The Air Crew were incredibly efficient, friendly and comforting. I owe them a huge debt of gratitude for which I will never be able to thank them properly.”

flight for life | Spring 2013

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Patient Thank You “The Air Crews professional manner was a credit to you all; a first rate service. The HEMS Doctor and Paramedic team were top notch, reassuring me continuously throughout my terrible incident.”

Paula and Mark Willis with their daughters Laura and Tanya and HEMS Paramedic John McCusker, HEMS Pilot Garry Brasher and HEMS Doctor Ben Clarke

Winners Announced for 10th Air Ambulance Raffle The tenth Air Ambulance Raffle organised by Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust proved to be another fantastic success, raising over £109,000 for the Charity!

There were three cash prizes up for grabs; £2,000, £1,000 and £500. The Charity is very pleased to congratulate the lucky winners; 1st – Mrs P Willis – Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire 2nd – Mr G Payne – Waltham Abbey, Essex 3rd – Mrs J Rice – Maldon, Essex First prize winner Mrs Paula Willis of Hoddesdon visited the Herts Air Ambulance Airbase at North Weald with her husband Mark and their daughters Laura and Tanya to meet the Crew and see the helicopter up close. Speaking of her win, Paula said: “It has been such a lovely surprise to be the first prize winner of the Air Ambulance Christmas Raffle. My family and I were invited to meet the Air Crew at North Weald. This was both interesting and very informative; I would like to thank them for their hospitality, wishing the Crews of both Herts and Essex all the best for 2013!”

Upon being presented with his winnings, second prize winner Mr G Payne of Waltham Abbey very kindly donated £500 back to the Charity.

Mission brief Male patient suffering medical emergency in West Colchester, treated by HEMS Paramedic Louise Rosson and HEMS Doctor Ben Clarke.

LEAVING A LEGACY… THE GIFT OF LIFE More than 10% of our work is made possible because of bequests left to the Charity. A charitable bequest (also known as a Gift or a Legacy) is a distribution from your estate to a charitable organisation through your last will and testament. Any legacy to a registered charity is exempt from inheritance tax.

DID YOU KNOW? If your estate is liable for inheritance tax you can reduce this charge by charitable giving. In April 2012 the law changed, now if 10% or more of your net estate is given to charity the remainder of your estate (left to any other beneficiaries) will be charged at the reduced rate of 36% instead of 40%.

Why not review your inheritance tax liability and possibly save your family thousands of pounds “I chose to leave a legacy with the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust because the Air Crew help people in trouble, regardless of their own safety, and that takes courage.”

A gift to the Charity allows us to continue our life–saving work. Please consider the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust in your Will. For more information call the Fundraising Office on 0845 2417 690 now!

We strongly recommend that you consult a solicitor or financial advisor when making or amending a Will. Although you will have to pay, you will receive sound professional advice, and they will help you with the correct wording for your legacy.

flightforlifelottery.uk.com | 0845 2417 688

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flight for life | Spring 2013

Volunteer News!

Corporate Supporters The Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust would like to thank the following corporates for their support of the Charity...

Essex Air Ambulance has formed a unique partnership with Wilkin & Sons Ltd. Find out more on page 15!

Cofunds and Woodland Group were joint headline sponsor of the Charity’s biggest and longest running event; Motorcycle Run 2012. And are also continuing their sponsorship for 2013!

Spiderman’s 10 Year Recognition Award!

Congratulations to Volunteer Peter Parker (centre - also known as Spiderman!) who has been presented with his 10 year recognition award by Operations Director Cliff Gale and Volunteer Coordinator Jill Jennings at the Essex Air Ambulance Earls Colne Airbase! Upon receiving his award, Peter had this to say...

“The Charity means an awful lot to me as it does to all our Volunteers, Staff and Air Crew. My role as a Volunteer has seen me heading to all parts of Essex; some I’ve never visited before in my life and of course into Hertfordshire when the service started there too.

My highlights of working with the Air Ambulance are numerous, but I thoroughly enjoyed organising and taking part in “Bike Essex” in 2003 with my son, Cliff. It took 6 days to bike 264 miles around the outskirts of Essex visiting every perimeter postcode.

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Sainsbury’s London Colney & Sainsbury’s Bishops Stortford have both made the Herts Air Ambulance their Charity of the Year and have so far raised over £12,000!

Hills Toyota, Bishops Stortford have kindly loaned the Herts Air Ambulance Fundraising Team a Toyota Aygo Ice, wrapped to resemble the helicopter. This has been invaluable to our fundraisers as they carry out their work, far and wide around the county. We also received a generous donation from the ‘Toyota GB Fund for a Better Tomorrow’ which provided sponsorship for the ‘Red Fun Run’ and the ‘Snowflake Ball’ 2012.

Other highlights include celebrity signings with football legends George Cohen and Sir Geoff Hurst, representing the Charity at events such as the Maldon Mud Race, organising ‘Walk the Essex Way’ which started at Epping Railway and ended in Harwich, and doing talks all over Essex and Hertfordshire.

Often, audience members will approach you and tell you their experiences of the Air Ambulance; that makes you think that you are doing a valuable job by volunteering with the Charity.

Skanska Balfour Beatty and Connect Plus, the companies behind the widening of the M25 had a special helicopter landing at their Junction 22 Compound just before Christmas and presented £20,000 to the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Trust.

Being a Volunteer is such great fun and the Staff are so welcoming. There are lots of ways to help out; from working in their offices, picking up cheques, selling merchandise, doing talks to groups or clubs, collecting tins – the list is endless! If you have time and energy to spare and would like to support the Charity then call the Fundraising Office on 0845 2417 690 – they’d love to hear from you!”

Also massive thanks go to EssexEmergency2000, Essex Audi Group, Volvo, M&G and Olympus KeyMed for supporting the Charity.

flight for life | Spring 2013

Essex Air Ambulance 127 x 190

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flight for life | Spring 2013

Tiptree Staff meet the Air Crew

Essex Air Ambulance Launch New Partnership with Wilkin & Sons Ltd The Essex Air Ambulance made a special landing in Tiptree to celebrate the official launch of a new partnership with Wilkin & Sons Ltd. They were greeted by Peter Wilkin, Chairman of the company and many of the staff from the jam factory, and as the landing coincided with the crew’s break they were able to enjoy a quick cream tea before heading back to the base.

The County’s life–saving helicopter displayed two new badges with the Tiptree logo on either side of the aircraft to demonstrate this new sponsorship deal.

the support of local businesses like Wilkins & Sons Ltd to help raise funds and keep the helicopters flying. Some of the benefits of working in partnership with the Charity include the opportunity to generate positive PR and increase your brand awareness, providing a fantastic opportunity to show corporate social responsibility as well as promoting your key services as well as enhancing staff morale.

Ian Thurgood, Joint Managing Director of Wilkin and Sons, said: “We are fortunate to be able to support the Essex Air Ambulance service. Its dedicated team of professionals delivers valuable aid across the whole county, 365 days a year.”

Ian Thurgood, Managing Director, Wilkin & Sons Ltd – “Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust is willing to tailor packages to suit commercial needs whilst still ensuring that the Charity gets best value from corporate support.”

The sponsorship package with the Tiptree based company is for a period of three

Wendy Marcon, Trust Events Manager of Essex & Herts Air Ambulance, adds: “We are very excited about this new partnership with Wilkin & Sons Ltd. They are very well respected in the community and are such a strong local brand, so as a local Charity that provides a vital emergency service to the people of Essex; we see this as an ideal affiliation!”

The Essex & Herts Air Ambulance relies on

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years and includes a number of exciting features. Essex Air Ambulance will be the beneficiary of the Tiptree Strawberry Race 2013, Wilkin & Sons Ltd will host a special day for the Charity’s Volunteers, four Tiptree tea rooms and three delivery vehicles will display Essex Air Ambulance branding, plus Wilkin & Sons Ltd will be the headline sponsors of the Colne Valley Cycle Ride for the next three years

“Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust is willing to tailor packages to suit commercial needs whilst still ensuring that the Charity gets best value from support.”

For more information on becoming a corporate sponsor visit EssexAirAmbulance.uk.com or call the Fundraising Office on 0845 2417 690 now.

Tiptree Staff and Charity Team

flight for life | Spring 2013

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Look out for future details on an exciting special offer we are working on with Warner Leisure Hotels for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust supporters.

Don’t miss our Gunton Hall fundraising weekend in December 2013.

Call 0845 2417 690 for more details.

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flight for life | Spring 2013

“Using this feature, electric shocks to the heart can be delivered at a specific time in a chest compression cycle, where the shocks will be at their most efficient in saving lives.”

World Class Cardiac Care for Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust Thanks to an appeal over the summer which raised over £14,000, the people of Essex and Hertfordshire are now benefiting from some of the highest standard pre-hospital cardiac care the World has to offer with new state of the art equipment on board the Essex & Herts Air Ambulances.

The Charity recently took delivery of three brand new ZOLL® X Series™ Patient Monitors each worth £25,000 and is the first Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) in the UK to use this new cutting edge technology in conjunction with ZOLL’s AutoPulse® mechanical CPR device during flight.

the harshest of conditions outside of hospital; we can easily watch the effect of our interventions on patients. We undertake treatments for the most critically injured of patients as soon as possible after an accident or severe illness, wherever this occurs. When someone’s heart has stopped, the Air Ambulance Air Crew provide cutting edge treatment which has been published in international medical journals.

We aspire to take this treatment even further by using the X series monitor in conjunction with ZOLL®’s AutoPulse device which uses a “Pass Through” feature with defibrillation. Using this feature, electric shocks to the heart can be delivered at a specific time in a chest compression cycle, where the shocks will be at their most efficient in saving lives.

EHAAT has already shown that working together with the Ambulance Service and first responder colleagues we can secure outcomes for our patients that are amongst the best in the UK.” The monitors are used in all medical and trauma cases, both adult and children, attended by the Essex & Herts Air Ambulances.

The Charity is delighted that people and businesses responded to the appeal in such a positive way and generously sent in donations of support. A big thank you to everyone that supported the appeal including Olympus KeyMed of Southend, IT Fleet of Colchester, Rotary Club of Brentwood a Becket and Freemasons from Colvin Lodge, Clacton-on-Sea.

Dr Gareth Grier, EHAAT Clinical Lead, explains: “At the Charity, we are delighted to have the new ZOLL® X Series monitor as part of our essential set of equipment.

The monitor allows us to continue to safely provide life-saving treatments for the patients of Essex and Herts at the roadside such as the delivery of an anaesthetic, something normally only available in hospital. We chose this monitor as it will ensure that even during

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flight for life | Spring 2013

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Meet new members of the EHAAT Air Crew!

Pilot Garry Brasher

Lyn Curry, EHAAT Finance Director with Dr Peter Temesvari, Head of Hungarian HEMS.

The Charity Donates Life–Saving Equipment to Hungarian HEMS As the Charity has recently upgraded to state of the art ZOLL® X Series™ Patient Monitors we are delighted to donate two older generation Schiller patient monitors to Dr Peter Temesvari, Medical Director of Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) in Hungary.

Before being appointed Medical Director of Hungarian HEMS, Peter Temesvari was a HEMS Doctor at EHAAT for a year starting in January 2009. Following this he moved to London’s Air Ambulance for six months as a HEMS Registrar before returning to his homeland and taking up his current role at Hungarian HEMS, an organisation providing seven Air Ambulances within Hungary.

Dr Peter Temesvari, Medical Director of Hungarian HEMS, said: “We were delighted by the generous offer of Essex & Herts Air Ambulance to donate their disused monitors to us. We have a close relationship with the Charity as I myself had the privilege to work there for over a year. We meet regularly with Clinical Manager Stuart Elms and compare how our services operate and look for possible improvements in the future.

As Hungary is a country with a much lower income than the UK, the medical equipment that is withdrawn from service at UK HEMS services can still serve the Hungarian public for years. I hope the people of Essex and Hertfordshire can be proud of the fact that vital medical equipment purchased from their donations can continue to help save lives abroad after they have stopped serving the local community.”

“I was in the Army for over 22 years with the Army Air Corps for the last 13 years, flying Gazelle then Lynx Helicopters all over the world with 4 tours in Afghanistan specialising in electronic warfare and helicopter tactics. I retired from the Army in 2010 and flew for the Police for the first 2 years with the Chiltern Air Support Unit in Bedfordshire on an EC135 helicopter before being offered my dream job at the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance flying the MD902 Explorer helicopters.”

HEMS Paramedic Jo Lambert

“I have been in the Ambulance Service since 2001 where I started as a Dispatcher in the Control Room. I have been a Paramedic for the past 6 years and served most of my time in Luton. I was a supervisor in Huntingdon for a year and was then lucky enough to be selected to work as part of the HEMS team with the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance. I have always been interested in trauma and critical care so working for the team is a dream come true. I am privileged to work with such a high standard of Pilots, Doctors and Paramedics as well as the dedicated Charity staff.”

HEMS Paramedic Louise Rosson

“I have worked for the East of England Ambulance Service for 7 years and practiced as a registered Paramedic for 5 years. I have also worked as a station supervisor at Newmarket ambulance station. Following this I was very grateful and excited to get selected to be part of the team at the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Charity. I have always wanted to have the opportunity to work on the Air Ambulance and to widen my knowledge and skills in patient care. It is great to work for a very driven, proactive Charity and with an experienced friendly HEMS team consisting of the Doctor, Pilot and Paramedic.”

HEMS Paramedic Erica Ley

“Having worked for the Ambulance Service for the past 8 years I am very fortunate to have been successful in my application for the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service Paramedic role with the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance. I started my career in Essex and have also worked in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire as part of the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART). Prior to accepting this role I was seconded to the Department of Health as part of the national HART training faculty. I love my job and I am thrilled to be part of a team who places high level patient care at the centre of its mission.”

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HEMS Doctor Ed Valentine

"I've just completed Registrar training in Emergency Medicine and Intensive Care. My pre-hospital background includes experience flying on Air Ambulances in the South West of England and working as a volunteer BASICS Doctor. Although I've only just started with Essex and Herts Air Ambulance I've been really impressed by the friendliness and dedication of the whole HEMS Team and am really looking forward to my time with an organisation which makes such a difference to the lives of so many people. In my spare time I travel back home to Wiltshire to see my wife and two children (Jack and Finn) who both love helicopters!!"

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flight for life | Spring 2013

Fantastic Fundraisers!

Past Events

tp 4,000 bikers turned out to support the 13th annual Essex Air Ambulance Motorcycle Run and Harwich Family Festival on Sunday 16th September raising over £31,600 for the county’s lifesaving helicopter.

p National Air Ambulance Week (NAAW) took place between the 24th – 30th September and was an initiative put together by the Association of Air Ambulances (AAA) which unites not only Air Ambulance charities from across the country, but also ambulance services and operators. Schools, businesses, individuals and whole communities all over Essex and Herts joined in by ‘Going Yellow’ for Essex and ‘Going Red’ for Herts to raise awareness of the Charity.

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tp Hundreds of chocolate lovers packed out the exclusive Orsett Hall Hotel for the Chocolate Ball on Saturday 8th December, raising in excess of £5,500 for the Essex Air Ambulance!

p A magical winter wonderland set the scene for a glittering evening of dancing and entertainment at the Herts Air Ambulance Snowflake Ball at Manor of Groves, Sawbridgeworth on Friday 30th November raising over £3,175!

flight for life | Spring 2013

EHAAT.uk.com | 0845 2417 690

Dates for your Diary!

Essex

Herts

Strictly Air Ambulance

Red Fun Run

When: Friday 8th March 2013 Where: The Brentwood Centre, Brentwood What: A glitzy and glamorous

evening of dance and

entertainment starring

X-Factor finalist’s Two

Shoes and celebrity pro dancers Darren Bennett

and Lilia Kopylova!

Cost: £15 premium seats

(£13 concessions)

£12 standard seats

(£10 concessions)

When: Sunday 29th September 2013 Where: Fairlands Valley Park, Stevenage What: 5K Fun Run and Easywalk

around the lake for mums

and toddlers plus the chance

to see the Herts Air

Ambulance up close and meet

the Air Crew!

Cost: £10 per person for the 5K Fun Run (£7 for running club

members) £5 for 1 adult and up to 3 children for

the Easywalk How: For more information visit HertsAirAmbulance.uk.com

How: Call National Box Office on

0871 224 1112 or visit EssexAirAmbulance.uk.com

Trust Great Essex & Herts Feast 2013

Colne Valley Cycleride When: Where: What:

Cost: How:

Sunday 12th May 2013 Earls Colne Business Park, Earls Colne near Colchester Cycle around the beautiful Colne Valley countryside with three routes to choose from; approximately 20 miles for the ‘just for fun’ riders, approximately 40 miles for the more serious cyclists, plus a shorter fun family cycle ride!

Pre-register is £16, pay on the day is £20 For more information visit EssexAirAmbulance.uk.com

Nepal Trek 2013

When: Where: What:

Cost: How:

When: March 2013 Where: Across Essex and Herts What: Simply host your own

feast! From a coffee

morning, to a fish and

chip supper, to a black

tie affair – you decide!

Cost: Host decides How: Full information on page

16 or visit EssexAirAmbulance.uk.com

or HertsAirAmbulance.uk.com

9th – 19th November 2013 Nepal, South Asia Embark on the challenge of a lifetime by trekking Nepal, widely acknowledged as one of the most spectacular trekking destinations in the world.

Minimum fundraising target required and £300 registration fee (corporate discount available) Full information on page 16, call Sabi on 0845 2417 690 or visit EssexAirAmbulance.uk.com or HertsAirAmbulance.uk.com

Mission brief

Mission brief

Male patient suffers trauma incident in Southend, treated

by HEMS Doctor Raj Maroju and HEMS Paramedic John McCusker – flown to incident by Pilot Nick Bramley.

Male patient suffers trauma injuries in Chorleywood, treated

by HEMS Doctor Ben Clarke and HEMS Paramedic Dave Tamarro – flown to scene by Pilot Rob Brackus.

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flight for life | Spring 2013

Great Feast 2013 Nepal Trek 2013

Get your friends together for a feast of your choice.

You can choose to entertain your friends however you wish, whether it be a formal dinner, fish & chip supper, brunch or even pancakes & bubbly! The key objective is to raise money by asking guests to make a donation. There is no fixed amount; the more they donate, the more this vital Helicopter Emergency Medical Service can help to save lives.

All hosts who register will receive a Great Feast registration pack, which includes invitations to send to guests, suggested recipes and cocktail ideas plus a free gift.

The Essex & Herts Air Ambulance fundraising team is urgently looking for supporters to embark on the Charity’s next big challenge – trekking Nepal from the 9th to the 19th of November 2013 to help raise vital funds for your Air Ambulance.

Too many friends to invite to your feast? Then encourage some of your friends to hold their own feast: the more hosts the better!

Call 0845 2417 690 for more information or sign up by visiting EssexAirAmbulance.uk.com or HertsAirAmbulance.uk.com now.

Nowhere else on Earth has a greater diversity of landscapes within as small an area as Nepal. It is widely acknowledged as one of the most spectacular trekking destinations in the world.

Central Nepal is dominated by the Annapurna Himal and the town of Pokhara. About two thirds of trekkers in Nepal visit the Annapurna region. Treks here offer good scenery of both high mountains and lowland villages.

Poon Hill is located just 400m above Ghorepani and offers a brilliant 360 degree view of the Himalaya giants such as the Annapurnas, the holy Machapuchere (Fishtail) and Dhaulagiri. On clear days it is even possible to see the Pokhara Valley from the top. It is beautiful trekking with lots to discover. The maximum height of this trek is 3200m.

Highlights of the trek include...

- Meeting local people and experiencing a new culture - Camp beside local teahouses - Trekking through some of the best scenery Nepal has to offer To register or find out more visit our website or call Sabi Blyth on 0845 2417 690.

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Patient Thank You “Following my off-road cycling accident I cannot express how pleased I was to hear the approach of the helicopter.

When the HEMS Doctor and Paramedic arrived they immediately put me at my ease and did everything possible to stabilize me.”

Mission brief Male patient suffers trauma injuries near Knebworth, treated

by HEMS Doctor Maria Smith and HEMS Paramedic Louise Rosson – flown to incident by Pilot David Kerr-Sheppard.

flight for life | Spring 2013

EHAAT.uk.com | 0845 2417 690

Baby Maisie’s Miracle Survival Dave Moon was driving home near Colchester one evening in September 2012 with his two young daughters, Ella and Maisie, 15 months, when a lorry came hurtling towards them.

Dave reacted quickly to the danger and swerved onto the opposite side of the road, but it was too late and their vehicle impacted with the lorry.

“After the impact I remember turning around and seeing Maisie’s lifeless body slumped in her car seat. She wasn’t breathing and I knew I had to act fast...”

Dave rushed out of the car, not realising that he himself had suffered two broken ribs. His other daughter Ella had been asleep upon impact so only had minor injuries. Delicately, Dave raised Maisie’s head up, clearing her airway of broken glass and was relieved to see Maisie take a

huge gulp of air, although she was suffering from intermittent levels of consciousness.

One of her legs was badly broken and blood gushed from an injury near her elbow.

Dave used various bits of clothing to stem the flow of blood and applied pressure to her wounds.

After returning from Addenbrookes Hospital on the completion of a previous call, and with fading daylight, the Essex Air Ambulance landed in a field directly beside the accident. Doctor Ben Clarke recalls; “The view from overhead indicated a high-velocity impact and both vehicles were extensively damaged. Upon arrival we were directed to the most unwell patient, a 15month-old girl, Maisie, with severe head and limb injuries. She required an emergency anaesthetic to protect her airway and ensure appropriate ventilation.

This is a difficult, albeit potentially life-saving procedure that the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Air Crew are able to perform safely at the roadside – bringing vital hospital level treatment to the scene.”

Working alongside the East of England Ambulance Service, Paramedics Jo Lambert and Ben Myer provided Maisie with pain relief and splinted her injured limbs.

As it was now dark, the HEMS Team stayed with Maisie in the land ambulance all the way to the Royal London Hospital. Scans later showed she had suffered two internal bleeds, a broken leg and fractured skull

EHAAT.uk.com | 0845 2417 690

with blood around her brain. After a week in intensive care she was transferred to Addenbrookes hospital and home a month later. Doctor Ben said “Given all her serious injuries Maisie has made a remarkable recovery – she’s a real fighter!”

Dave remembers; “The Air Ambulance Doctor and Paramedics who helped us that evening were not only professional, kind and very understanding, but most of all completely dedicated, demonstrated by the fact that they were supposed to be off duty when they were approached about attending the scene. They not only agreed to help us, but remained with us throughout the rest of the evening.

The Air Ambulance Doctor and Paramedics who helped us that evening were not only professional, kind and very understanding, but most of all completely dedicated.”

After meeting them and thanking them a thousand times at the Earls Colne Airbase we were particularly struck by their modesty in that they did not expect any thanks or praise from us, but merely support for which we feel is a very worthy Charity.

It is a miracle that our daughter Maisie survived this horrific ordeal, a miracle that was made possible by the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance and for which we will always be extremely grateful.”

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flight for 2011 flight forlife life| |summer Spring 2013

Community Fundraisers Herts

a BBQ, name the bear competition, bouncy castle, three legged race, stocks and egg roulette. The pub raised a grand total of £933.07 – thanks so much guys!

A big thank you to the pupils and teachers of Manor Lodge School in Shenley who raised £1,336.10 by selling cakes after choosing us as their Charity of the Year!

Essex

Rebecca Woods–Stark (Granddaughter), John Frost (Grandson), Charles Arthur Frost (Granddad), Trevor Frost (Son) (photo courtesy of www.AndrewHydePhotographer.co.uk)

Charles Arthur Frost recently had an 80th Birthday celebration in Hitchin with over 70 guests making donations in lieu of presents, totalling £310 for the Herts Air Ambulance.

Charles has never smiled so much!

Simon’s Story

King William IV Pub held a Charity Golf Day at Whitehills Golf Course in Ware. It was one of the summer's few hot days and was enjoyed by all who attended. At the pub afterwards there was

The King’s Head in Tollesbury raised a fantastic £4,066.76 at their Charity Auction in October 2012 – thank you!

Paul Whight from Earls Colne held a ‘Monks & Wenches’ Charity Ball in September 2012 and raised an amazing £3,177.36 – great work!

Mr Richard Rix from West Mersea started collecting for the Essex Air Ambulance in January 2000 and has so far raised a total of £10,780.20 by selling old re-usable bicycle parts!

How the HEMS Heroes saved my life!

If you have ever seen the TV advert where a driver pulls out Name of a T-junction without seeing the motorbike approaching, you will have a good idea of what happened to Simon Stevens.

Address

How can you help?

At Addenbrookes Simon was sedated and then underwent extensive surgery to repair his liver and remove his spleen.

Eight litres of blood were needed to keep him alive.

But miraculously he has quickly bounced back. A keen gym The 40 year old from Bishop's Stortford was riding through member, Simon’s powers of recuperation were enhanced by his Spellbrook on a sunny day last September when suddenly a people Telephone level of fitness - not to mention his stubbornness! “I got bored in Please help byfrom ticking anydealership of the carrier pulled out a car directly in front of him. hospital so I checked out after ten days,” he says. Fortunately his boxes you andofcomplete Simon haswhich only interest a hazy memory the event - but even now Email wife, Tanya, turned ‘nurse’ was given unlimited leave to look after your contact details.

Then simply sometimes wakes up hearing the sound of his beloved Honda SP1 him. Simon even went back to his office “just to show my face,” in return the form to: scraping down the tarmac towards the car. Ironically, heI’dwas likeontothe make a donation and enclose a sum of £ less than three weeks. way to hospital for aHerts blood test - he had testicular cancer 2 ½ years (please make cheque payable to the ‘Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust’) Essex and He’s fully mobile again now – just months after the accident. agoAir andAmbulance has to go for a test every three months, “I got to hospital all Trust Please send me information about: Volunteering Apart from sufferingLottery from post traumatic stress - “I’m slightly right, but not the one I’d been heading for!” he says.

The Business Centre bonkers anyway” – he’s fine.

However he says “I wouldn’t be Simon wasColne gravely injured.

He had Park shattered six ribs and brokenmoney Earls Business Raising Leaving a legacy Corporate sponsorship here at all if the Air Ambulance Doctor and the team hadn’t been hisEarls back in Colne three places. His liver was ripped in half; he had burst around – they saved my life.

If it was not for their fast response hisColchester spleen and damaged his sixth cranial nerve (affecting his vision and intervention, it is certain that my two young sons would now in one eye).

Gift Aid it! Please treat as Gift Aid donations all qualifying gifts of money made: CO6 2NS be fatherless and my wife a widow. These people survive on no direct Government; it’s almost all from Today Current taxfunding year from the In the future or email the area(s) which interests “I wouldn’t be here at all if the you. If you have a spare £10 per month, you could you with your contact details to: Please tick all boxes youpeople wish to like apply. not spend it much better than donating it to this team of people.

ContactUs@EHAAT.uk.com Air Ambulance Doctor and I confirm I have paid or will anheroes.” amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for They arepay true or telephone: 0845 2417 690 the team hadn’t been around each tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the more information –Forthey savedabout my life.”

charities or Community Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year.Mission I understandbrief that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand the Charity will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I give for current The Essex Air Ambulance was called to a gentleman who and future years.

donating online, please visit us at EHAAT.uk.com The Aircrew arrived to find a land ambulance crew already had suffered a cardiac arrest while out cycling. Pilot David If you doland not pay sufficientKerr-Sheppard tax to cover thelanded amountthe thehelicopter charity may reclaim, you mayand have to pay Thank you injuries. for assessing Simon’s Dr Imogen Bowring says “The near the incident, over the additional tax reclaimed by the charity to the Inland Revenue. Please notify us if you your support. crews sometimes arrive before we do if they’re close to the patient’s HEMS Doctor Ross Davenport and HEMS Paramedic Chris wish to cancel this declaration, change your name or address or no longer pay sufficient income location.

However, there are severe injuries we will take Occasionally the Charitywhen would like to send youreally a and/or Capital Gains Tax. Martin were first on scene and provided advanced life support about the Charity. You details will themagazine/information patient to a specialist hospital, which is quicker and less painful to the patient. His heart was successfully restarted and he NOT be supplied to third parties. Please tick if you do NOT for want people withCharity terrible we decided to receive news.injuries, like Simon. In his case was then sedated and cooled before being taken to Signature Date on Addenbrookes, one of our major trauma centres.”

Broomfield Hospital by land ambulance.

8 18

Essex Air Ambulance is a division of the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust which is a company limited by guarantee under Company No. 5397840, registered at Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust, The Business Centre, Earls Colne Business Park, Colchester CO6 2NS. Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust Flight for Life Lottery is a trading company of Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust registered at the same address. Register charity number 1108989.

flight for 2011 flight forlife life| |summer Spring 2013

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