Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) has celebrated six months of carrying blood supplies on board its helicopters and Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs) with a ‘blood drive’ at Colchester United Football Club.
On Sunday 20th October staff, volunteers and supporters from the Charity donated blood at a specially-arranged donation session to acknowledge everyone who has made it possible for its critical care teams to be able to provide this potentially life-saving intervention. In total we had 55 donors over the four hours and 20 brand new blood donors.
The partners who have worked with EHAAT on this development include NHS Blood and Transplant, The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow and the Essex Voluntary Blood Service (‘Essex Blood Bikers’), each of whom was represented at the event.
Over the last six months 22 patients have received potentially life-saving transfusions from EHAAT’s critical care teams, and the volunteers from Essex Blood Bikers have covered over 24,000 miles delivering blood from Harlow to EHAAT’s bases at Earls Colne and North Weald. The blood is replaced daily and replenished as required.
Key statistics (up to October 11th):
• 22 patients have received a blood transfusion
• These have included 16 men and 6 women
• 28 units of blood have been used
• 24 volunteers from Essex Blood Bikers have delivered blood, covering over 24,000 miles
• Each volunteer has covered an average of 154 miles per night
• Mission types: 17 helicopter, 5 RRV
• 12 road traffic collisions, 4 falls, 6 other
