Local News
Mission 24/7 is almost a reality East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) is online 365 days a year to help local people in the most lifethreatening or life-changing situations and is close to flying 24/7 for the very first time. Mission 24/7 has been a long-term goal of the charity’s and by the end of June, thanks to community support, this goal will be a reality. EAAA has long been passionate about closing the current gap (between 1:30am and 7am) where there is no helicopter coverage available in the region. During this time both of EAAA’s teams are available instead by rapid response vehicle, providing 24/7 emergency care across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire by car. By flying 24/7, EAAA will become the first air ambulance in the East of England to do so and estimate they will be tasked to 400 more patients a year, getting its teams to people in need as quickly as possible, 24 hours a day. This will be an exciting milestone for the air ambulance charity and for the region. Patrick Peal, CEO of EAAA, said: “We’ve dreamt of being able to fly 24/7 for years as we’re fiercely passionate about making sure the same standard of critical care is available, by helicopter, right across East Anglia no matter what time of day or night it is. We know people don’t stop having cardiac arrests, strokes or road traffic collisions when the helicopter goes offline, and we have been working towards this goal for some time. We’re hugely grateful for the
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community support which has got us here and are counting down the days to becoming fully 24/7 by helicopter.” Ready, steady, go – Chariots of Fire relay race for EAAA on Sunday 19 September Could you run in a 1.7-mile relay to help save lives? EAAA is the benefiting charity of this year’s Chariots of Fire relay race in Cambridge. Funds raised will help EAAA’s life-saving CPR and defibrillator training work for community groups, schools and workplaces. If you, or someone you know, can support EAAA by putting in a team get signed up while places are available by visiting the EAAA website or www. chariots-of-fire.co.uk. You just need six people (tickets cost £25 each) and to raise a suggested £50 per person towards the life-saving training - and to have fun taking part!
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