Air Ambulance Week to launch across the UK

Air Ambulance Week is the only week in the year dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the lifesaving work of air ambulance charities and is organised by Air Ambulances UK, the national charity that supports and represents UK air ambulance charities, enabling them to save even more lives and improve patient outcomes

Through sharing patient stories, the week raises awareness of how air ambulance charities save thousands of lives every year. The event also highlights that air ambulance charities collectively make around 500 lifesaving missions a week across the UK – a total of about 30,00 a year – providing vital support to the NHS and forming an important part of the UK’s frontline emergency services.

Air ambulance charities need support post-pandemic

Each air ambulance lifesaving mission costs on average around £2,500-£3,500 and is almost entirely funded by donations.

Simmy Akhtar, CEO, of Air Ambulances UK said: “A sudden life-threatening injury or illness can happen to anyone, anywhere at any time. When it happens, every second counts towards survival.

“With many air ambulance charities experiencing a significant rise in callouts and many fundraising activities over the past year being adversely effected by Covid-19, now more than ever, air ambulance charities need support to ensure they can save even more lives.”