Air Ambulance Week takes off across the UK on 9th September 2024, with air ambulance charities delivering the message: “Today’s Supporter, Tomorrow’s Lifesaver.”
Anyone, anywhere in the UK can become a patient at any time. The message, “Today’s Supporter, Tomorrow’s Lifesaver,” reminds us that by becoming a supporter today, you can help save lives tomorrow. Throughout Air Ambulance Week, join us in celebrating the incredible stories shared by those whose lives have been impacted by the dedicated teams of critical care medics, who bring the hospital to the patient at the scene! Each act of support today becomes hope for tomorrow, increasing the chances of survival and improving patient outcomes. Together, we save lives!
Air Ambulance Week is the only week in the year dedicated to raising awareness and funds for the vital lifesaving work of air ambulance charities and is organised by us, Air Ambulances UK, the national charity supporting the lifesaving work of the UK’s air ambulance charities, enabling them to save even more lives every day.
The event also highlights that anyone, anywhere in the UK can become a patient at any time. Air ambulance charities collectively make over 45,000 lifesaving missions each year across the UK. There are 37 air ambulance helicopters in the UK operated by 21 air ambulance charities, providing pre-hospital care support to the NHS and forming an important part of the UK’s frontline emergency services.
Air ambulance crews bring the Emergency Department to patients who have suffered a life-threatening or life-changing trauma or medical emergency; providing specialist critical care to save lives. The UK’s 21 air ambulance charities receive no day-to-day government funding and depend almost entirely on charitable donations to deliver their lifesaving care.
On average, an air ambulance can reach someone in urgent need within 15 minutes. Air ambulance charities are collectively dispatched to over 126 lifesaving missions each day across the UK. Each lifesaving mission by air costs on average £4,110 and is funded almost entirely by donations. That’s why we can’t save lives without you and why Air Ambulances UK is calling on people all over the UK to support their local air ambulance to ensure air ambulance charities continue to save lives every day.
“Today’s Supporter, Tomorrow’s Lifesaver is an important reminder of the impact each of us can make. Each day, air ambulance charities are collectively dispatched to over 126 lifesaving missions and each mission is funded almost entirely by the generosity of our local communities. As we celebrate Air Ambulance Week 2024, we recognise the invaluable impact of the dedicated teams who bring hospital-level care to patients in their most vulnerable moments. Through your generosity, air ambulance charities continue to save lives and improve outcomes across the UK.”
Simmy Akhtar CEO, Air Ambulances UK