4,000 rescues later

Friday 13th is always a date that stands out, but last week’s date will be extra memorable for the crew of Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA), as they achieved a milestone rescue mission.

On Friday, DLRAA attended their 4,000th rescue since the charity started back in January 2008.
From accidents up in the rural areas of the Peak District, to road accidents on some of Britain’s major motorways, the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) is always on hand to help provide emergency treatment and transport, serving a population of over 1.4 million and saving lives across the counties.

Based at East Midlands Airport, DLRAA first flew in January 2008.

In a remarkable coincidence pilot Shaun Tinkler Rose who flew that very first mission, also flew the 4,000th one on Friday.
Since the first rescue in 2008, DLRAA have flown to a variety of different missions.
Road traffic accidents are the most common call out, but equestrian accidents are also high equating for 11% of all missions, with falls being the third most common call out at 10%.
Being based near to the Peak District, DLRAA often get called to climbing and walking accidents, and they’ve also had some more unusual incidents, such as the two cases of decompression sickness that they treated recently.

Shaun says: “As a Pilot for DLRAA I really do never know what’s around the corner, where we’re going to be flying to next. I have landed in all sorts of places and attended many different accidents and injuries. I’ve learnt a great deal from seeing the paramedics and doctors in action, and I love knowing that my work is making a difference and potentially saving lives.”

DLRAA were called to their milestone mission just after 10:00 Friday morning (13th July) after a car collided with a tractor just north of Peterborough.
Talking about the 4,000th rescue, Shaun says: “The casualty, a female in her 20s, was suffering from a suspected fractured hip and arm so our first step was for our paramedics to immobilise her. Immobilisation prevents the injured limbs from moving during the journey which prevents further damage.
“We then airlifted her to the major trauma centre at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire for further treatment.”

At the end of 2011, DLRAA became part of The Air Ambulance Service, alongside Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) and The Children’s Air Ambulance.
Talking about how the organisation has changed over the four years, Shaun says:
“Since forming in 2008, DLRAA has gone from strength to strength. Becoming part of The Air Ambulance Service means we can now provide collaborative HEMS at the scene of major accidents and over the summer months we stagger ourselves with our sister service WNAA to ensure that communities from all five counties have HEMS when they need it."

“We’ve also developed our HEMS so that we really are providing high quality pre-hospital care at the scene of accidents. We don’t just transport patients, our doctors and paramedics are highly skilled in providing treatments prior to arrival at hospital, which improves a patient’s chances of survival and recovery.

“I’m looking forward to seeing this organisation continue to grow and to continue saving more lives.”

MISSION MONDAY

The rain seemed to ruin a lot of people’s plans for the weekend, but our helicopters were still kept busy attending rescues across the counties.
Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) and Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA) showed their capabilities at providing collaborative HEMS on the scene of major accidents at a two car road traffic collision (RTC) near Junction 11 of the A42.

Both services treated and airlifted casualties to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire. Sadly there was also a fatality as a third casualty was declared deceased on the scene.

WNAA attended another serious RTC on Sunday (8th July), this time on the M40 in between junctions 15 and 16. A car had left the road trapping the driver. WNAA assisted with the extrication of the casualty before the on board doctor anesthetised him on the scene to stabilise him. He was then immobilised airlifted to UHCW.

RTCs are our most common call out – DLRAA attended 36 of them in May alone.

Something that is far from common and yet has happened twice in less than two weeks is a call out to diving related incidents.

On Sunday, DLRAA attended their second case of suspected decompression sickness, also known as ‘the bends’ in less than a fortnight. They took the casualty over 100 miles to a hyperbaric unit in Hull for specialist decompression treatment.

WNAA were also called to a slightly more unusual event on Saturday after five people were injured by a horse at Hollywell Steam Rally. None of the injuries were serious so after WNAA had examined the patients they were taken to a local hospital by land ambulance.

It’s been a quiet Monday so far today.

WNAA are yet to go out (although they are on duty until 21:00) and DLRAA have been out once, to Corby, to assist with an extrication of a casualty who was trapped in his overturned van. He was then taken to hospital by land ambulance.

For all the latest rescue news, please make sure you check our websites regularly – links can be found on the right hand side of this post! Have a good week.