Why do Air Ambulances airlift horse riders?

Yesterday amateur jockey JT McNamara was airlifted to hospital after sustaining a serious injury when he came off his horse while riding at Cheltenham. Here at The Air Ambulance Service, horse riding accidents are one of our most common call outs. So why are Air Ambulances often called to airlifted horse riders?

1) Horse riding incidents can cause serious neck and back injuries which often need treating at spinal units. Air Ambulances ensure that the rider can get to these specialist units as soon as possible - we aim to take the patient to the hospital that can provide them with the most suitable treatment for their injuries rather than the nearest.

2) We provide advanced medical care at the scene of incidents which means that we can administer lifesaving pre-hospital care before and while the patient is on the way to his or her way hospital. For example, we regularly carry doctors on board our aircrafts: doctors can anaethetise casualties at the scene, inducing them into a medical coma which will help stabilise the patient for the journey.

3) Horse riding accidents often happen in remote locations. Whether it's on a remote farm or out in the fields, it can be difficult for a land ambulance to reach an injured horse rider. An Air Ambulance has the advantage of being able to land in a field close to the patient, meaning that they can get the treatment they need as soon as possible and will soon be on their way to hospital.

So there you go, next time you read one of our rescue missions reports (which can be found on our website!) of an horse riding incident, you'll have a better understanding of just why an Air Ambulance was so vital at such an accident.

World Spine Day

Here's a little known fact for you all; today, 16th October, is World Spine Day - a day dedicated to raising awareness of the prevention and management of spinal conditions.

Why are we sharing this seemingly random fact with you, you may ask.

Well here at The Air Ambulance Service (TAAS), many of the incidents that are attended by Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) and Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA) involve patients who have suffered  a back injury.

When someone has a suspected spinal injury, whether as a result of a horse riding accident, a road traffic collision, or a climbing fall, WNAA and DLRAA have vital assets that that they can bring to the incident to help that person make the best possible recovery.

A smooth transfer

Our helicopters have an extremely low cabin vibration which means that the journey is very smooth - crucial when transferring a patient with a suspected spinal injury. Rather than taking them in a land ambulance where there are bumps and bends in roads plus stops and starts, the helicopter can take the patient smoothly to the hospital, helping to avoid the risk for further movement and damage.

Extrication techniques

Our DLRAA and WNAA crews are specially trained in extricating patients from accidents where they are trapped, either as a result of something physical or because of their injuries. Correctly managing a patient who may have spinal injuries when removing them from a trapped situation is extremely important.

The right hospital

As with all of the incidents that we attend, having an Air Ambulance present makes sure that the casualty can receive the right treatment for their injuries as soon as possible - so someone with a spinal injury can be rapidly flown to a hospital that has a specialist spinal unit, aiding their chances of making a good recovery.

Richard's story

One person that understands the value of an Air Ambulance when it comes to spinal injuries is Richard Clutterbuck. In August 2010 Richard was knocked off his beloved horse by a car, injuring his back. DLRAA attended the incident and flew him immediately to Univeristy Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) where he underwent pin-hole surgery to cement his shattered vertebrae and to screw rods to his back. He was the eighth person in the country to receive this surgery, and UHCW was one of just two hospitals that had the capability to perform it.

Because of DLRAA, Richard was able to make a relatively swift recovery. The journey from Great Oxendon (where the accident happened) to UHCW would have been long and potentially uncomfortable by land. If he hadn't been able to get to UHCW he wouldn't have had the pin-hole surgery and instead would have had to spend months on his back recovering in hospital. As it was, Richard was out of hospital just over a week.

Read more about Richard's story.

Find out more about World Spine Day.