The team at Midlands Air Ambulance Charity has revealed a startling new statistic – five per cent of all air ambulance missions undertaken by the service are from golf courses.
“We tended to 84 people on golf courses in 2014, that’s one person every four days,” highlights Becky Tinsley, air operations manager for the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.
She adds: “A number of people we airlift from golf courses suffer with cardiac arrests, heart attacks or strokes. In some circumstances they were life critical helicopter emergency medical air ambulance missions, and taking in account the often remote location of golf courses, it is imperative we reach, treat and transfer patients to hospital quickly, as when someone suffers with a cardiac arrest for example, every minute counts.”
To help raise awareness of the importance of the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity among golfers, the charity has recently partnered with The Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA).
In recent years The PGA has taken an active role in health and safety at golf clubs including playing a key role in supporting the Bernard Gallacher Defibrillator Campaign which aims to install a life-saving AED (automated external defibrillator) in every club in the country.
Robert Maxfield, The PGA’s joint chief operating officer, commented: “While Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s statistic is startling, it is sadly reflective of the situation across the country, which is why we launched a campaign prior to Christmas last year, whereby we want to see a defibrillator in every golf club in the UK.
“We are also keen to support the life-saving work of the Midlands Air Ambulance, which has undoubtedly saved countless lives on golf courses in the region.”
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity is hosting a charity golf day with support from the PGA on Wednesday 14th October on the world-renowned Brabazon course at The Belfry. Limited team places and sponsorship are still available, and if you’re interested please call on 0800 8 40 20 40 or email jon.cottrell@midlandsairambulance.com
Midlands Air Ambulance Charity www.midlandsairambulance.com
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