The major objective of the Irish Community Air Ambulance service is to provide efficient, secure, and timely emergency medical care. A charity-funded Air Ambulance helimed92 is providing help to seriously ill or injured people in Ireland. The Ambulance service is staffed with NAS Advanced Paramedics and EMTs (Emergency Medical Technicians).
The Air Ambulance also runs a network of Volunteer Doctors in Rapid Response Vehicles all over the country. The Irish Community Air Ambulance recently made a new record since the organization first launched. Air Ambulance has responded to the highest number of road traffic collisions in just a single month.
The HEMS Air Ambulance Responded to 15 Crashes in May
However, the HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) Air Ambulance was assigned to 15 separate crashes in May 2022. The surge in crash incidents has increased the number of calls for the helicopter elevated 14% compared to April 2022. The Air ambulance service is also experiencing increasing fuel costs.
The Air ambulance service has launched a massive fundraising initiative in collaboration with RTÉ presenter John Creedon. It would provide significant support for the expansion of its ground-based volunteer doctor service. It is noteworthy that the helicopter ambulance service responded to 205 incidents in the first 5 months of 2022. There were 42 tasks in April and 48 tasks in May 2022.
17 People Were Airlifted to Hospitals in May 2022
The calls in May also include 6 incidents related to adventurers or farming. Most of the calls were received from Cork, Clare, Charlow, Kerry, Limerick, Waterford, and Wexford. However, 17 people in total were airlifted to hospitals in Cork and Limerick in the month of May 2022. The ground teams also responded to 221 reported incidents between January and May 2022.
The ambulance service is motivating people to arrange a BBQ or coffee morning in July to elevate essential funds. RTÉ presenter John Creedon joined the team for the first event of the summer, the Brew for the Crew. The Irish Community Air Ambulance service was first launched around 3 years ago and has had a major impact across the country.
The Demand for Air Ambulance Services is Increasing
Meanwhile, rural communities in Munster and its nearby places are a considerable distance from the nearest hospital. The numbers for May have shown that the demand for the service is rapidly increasing. Creedon said nobody is consuming time in thinking that they critically need the Air Ambulance services.
Creedon added that life can change in an instant way when trauma strikes. So, this charity service has its own importance in helping people immediately. The summer is the toughest time of the year and the ambulance service is experiencing an increase in the calls. However, 15 road traffic incidents in just one month are the major concern with a critical crash every 2nd day.
40 Separate Incidents in the First 5 Months of 2022
The organization said its helicopter responded to 40 separate incidents in the first 5 months of 2022. It is important that the cost of fuel is continuously increasing. So, community fundraisers such as Brew for the Crew are important in this situation. Moreover, idonate.ie also pointed out that Irish Community Air Ambulance is based in Rathcoole in Cork County.
The organization works in collaboration with the National Ambulance Service to offer paramedics and transport serious patients to hospitals. The Irish Community Air Ambulance brings seriously injured people to the hospital. The ICRR Charity Air Ambulance is providing emergency medical care to around 25,000km2 areas within 30 minutes.