The charity that provides the lifesaving Magpas Air Ambulance service in Bedfordshire says that last month was its busiest on record.
Throughout May, the air amublance was called to more critically ill and injured patients than ever before, responding to 197 emergency calls across nine counties.
The day which saw the highest demand was during the first May bank holiday weekend (Saturday, 2 May) when the charity’s medical team was activated 11 times in 24 hours.
And medical emergencies, such as cardiac arrests, remained its most attended incident.
Magpas Air Ambulance’s advanced team of doctors and critical care paramedics rely almost completely on public donations to continue saving lives, with the service receviing no routine day-to-day funding from the government.
And according to its website, each emergency call-out for the Magpas Air Ambulance costs approximately £3,000 on average.
This fee covers the operational expense of dispatching a helicopter and a highly specialized medical crew to the scene of a life-threatening emergency
Magpas Air Ambulance CEO Daryl Brown MBE DL said: “Magpas Air Ambulance has been saving lives for 55 years, and we are proud to rise to the demand for our service and be there for every patient who urgently needs our care across the region.
“But it’s important to remember that none of this would be possible without the incredible generosity of our supporters, who enable us to provide this vital service 24/7.
“With you, we save lives.”
Find out more about Magpas Air Ambulance and support its cause at magpas.org.uk.
