General

The Eldwick Village Society has reached an incredible £50,000 fundraising milestone for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Eldwick Village Society is a community-based hub based near Bingley West Yorkshire, which offers news to residents of the small village of Eldwick, as well as organising a host of events in the area.

The community group have supported Yorkshire Air Ambulance since 2010 through a variety of events including an annual Beer and Banger Festival, where award-winning sausages are cooked over charcoal and thirty locally sourced hand drawn beers are on sale.

Chairman of Eldwick Village Society, Tony Clegg, said: “We work closely with YAA for this annual event and it has proved a very successful partnership with the helicopter regularly landing at the event on a Saturday afternoon. We would like to thank everyone who has supported our Beer and Banger Festival and look forward to working with YAA in 2022.”

Kerry Dwyer, Yorkshire Air Ambulance Director of Fundraising (South and West), said: “The Eldwick Beer and Banger Festival is a firm favourite in our YAA calendar and we would like to thank the organisers and those who have attended the event over the years for their generosity and support.

It costs £12,000 a day to keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances maintained and in the air and the phenomenal £50,000 raised has helped greatly towards the vital of funding of our service and keeping our helicopters airborne. We look forward to working with Eldwick Village Society again this year.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) crew are urging people to stay warm this winter with a mug of hot chocolate to beat hypothermia and raise vital funds for their charity, with their annual YAA Hot Chocolate Fundraising Day, which takes place on Friday 28^th January.

YAA is an independent Charity that needs to raise £12,000 every single day to keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances in the air and maintained.  The charity responds to more than 1,500 incidents every single year with the winter period being one of their busiest times.

For the last few years, the YAA has been marking National Hot Chocolate Day with a series of fundraising campaigns and events, helping to bring people together whilst raising awareness of the life-saving Charity and other topical issues.

January is one of the UK’s coldest months with an average temperature of only 7 degrees. The cold, wintery weather brings many seasonal dangers and can be a cause of many excess deaths every single year.

Hypothermia is when the body’s temperature drops below 35 degrees, paving way for potential cardiovascular and respiratory issues, amongst other conditions. Older people and the more vulnerable are considered most at risk, but hypothermia can affect anyone if the body gets too cold.

James Allen, HEMS Paramedic at Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “The effect the cold weather can have on the human body is often highly underestimated and hypothermia can be very dangerous. At this time of year, we attend many incidents where people are unequipped for the colder climate, particularly those hiking, biking or taking part in long walks. Additionally, patients that have been involved in road accidents tend to get cold very quickly at this time of year.  In cases of mild hypothermia a warm, sugary drink can in itself be a treatment. Especially in those patients that, as a result of a prolonged period of exposure, have depleted their glucose reserves and are at risk of developing more severe hypothermia.

In more serious cases our crew are able to bring heated blankets, an insulated sleeping bag and a storm shelter to protect the patient from the elements whilst we treat their injuries. For critically injured patients Yorkshire Air Ambulance carries blood that is warmed up to body temperature just prior to administration. Most crucially, YAA provides rapid transport from the scene of the incident to the hospital, where patients can be completely rewarmed. Prevention is, however, better than the cure and this campaign is a great way of highlighting the dangers of the cold weather and encouraging people to stay safe this winter.”

One of the best and most enjoyable ways to stay warm and hydrated is with a hot cup of cocoa. Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s Hot Chocolate fundraising day will take place on 28^th January 2022 and the charity will be encouraging supporters to sign up and join them for a cup of hot chocolate, whilst learning about the vital work the charity does 365 days a year across Yorkshire.

The YAA has issued an awareness video about hypothermia and the risks of cold weather, and there will also be a virtual event where you can learn more about the dangers with ITV Calendar’s Meteorologist and YAA Patron, Jon Mitchell interviewing the crew. There will also be a chance to learn more about the charity through talks with Helicopter ER Producer Matt Richards, speaking about how they film the award-winning television show.

To register for the event or to take part in Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s hot chocolate day, please visit:https://www.yorkshireairambulance.org.uk/get-involved/events/yaa-events/yaa-hot-chocolate-day-2022/

Yorkshire Air Ambulance crew, staff and volunteers have come together to produce a very special rendition of the Christmas classic ‘Jingle Bells’ to spread some festive smiles and cheer, and thank everyone for their valued support over the last year.

The light-hearted video features a collaboration from Charity staff, crew and volunteers who work at the lifesaving charity wearing festive attire singing along to Jingle Bells, which was filmed all across the region.  The track is also accompanied by an acoustic performance by local musicians Mark Stringer and Scott Phoenix from Pontefract.

YAA is an independent Charity that needs to raise £12,000 every single day to keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances in the air and maintained and operates 365 days per year from their airbases at Nostell near Wakefield and Topcliffe near Thirsk.

Abby Barmby, Director of Marketing and Communications for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “The last twelve months have been tough for everyone.  We have pretty much seen our summer events calendar wiped out and missed out on so many of our regular and annual fundraising events.  Thankfully, our fundraising teams have been able to get back out on the road fundraising in their local communities over the last few months, and some events are starting to take place again.   Even during these tough times, we have continued to be overwhelmed by the support we have received from the people of Yorkshire and beyond and we wanted to thank everyone in our own festive way! The idea of this video was just to bring a smile to everyone’s faces and to try and end the year positively!”

Abby continued “Everyone involved has been so enthusiastic, and we have really enjoyed pulling it all together.  We hope it makes everyone smile as much as we have and helps to raise awareness of the vital work we undertake!  Whilst most of us will get to enjoy our Christmas day with friends and family, our crew will be operational as we are a 365 day operation, alongside our other colleagues in organisations such as the NHS, the emergency services and care services.”

To watch the video, please CLICK HERE

A man from Pickering with a heart condition that has required the air ambulance to respond to him three times is set to share his story on Helicopter ER this week.

In March 2021, Clive Ainley from Pickering, East Yorkshire, was at home when he began feeling clammy and experiencing chest pains. Clive recognised the symptoms as a heart attack after experiencing one only a few years before.

Earlier that day Clive had been at York hospital having a check-up where they carried out an ECG to look for any abnormalities of his heart and everything appeared to be normal. He did not expect to be calling the emergency services later that evening.

Speaking of when he first noticed his symptoms Clive said: “You’re in denial because it can’t be happening again, and you think straight away what it could be. It wasn’t until I sat down and started having difficulty breathing and shortness of breath that I knew it was a heart attack. “

Yorkshire Air Ambulance dispatched their Topcliffe aircraft and Clive was flown to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough for further treatment.

Tests at the hospital revealed that the stent fitted after Clive’s first attack had become blocked, and he was given an implantable defibrillator to monitor and restart his heart if necessary.

Clive was always a very active man and at 51, is under the average age to have heart attacks. The YAA since attended to him again, when his ICD went off as his heart kept going in and out of rhythm, but thankfully has remained stable since and has now been referred to specialists at Newcastle Hospital to be added to the heart transplant list.

“I cannot thank Yorkshire Air Ambulance enough for all their help, the work that they do is second to none”, said Clive.

Clive’s incident will be broadcast on Yorkshire Air Ambulance reality television show, Helicopter ER, on Tuesday 7^th December at 10 pm on Channel Really. The episode also features a rock face fall in North Yorkshire and a bike incident at the Humber estuary.

A cyclist who fell off his bike during a 200-mile bike ride across the North Yorkshire Moors is set to appear on Helicopter ER next week.

In August 2020, avid cyclist Paul Coxon from Middlesbrough was cycling the 200-mile Sportiv route through Yorkshire with a group of friends when he fell from his bike around the 120-mile point.

A passer-by found Paul and ran to a nearby house to ask them to call the emergency services. Paul has no recollection of what happened, and his water bottle was found some distance from where he fell.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance dispatched their Topcliffe aircraft and their two Paramedics assessed Paul and made the decision to fly him to James Cook University Hospital for further treatment. The area where Paul had his incident was approximately 50 miles away from the nearest major trauma centre.

Tests at the hospital revealed that Paul had broken seven ribs, two vertebrae, dislocated his right shoulder and punctured his lung.

Paul spent five days in the hospital and had a difficult two-month recovery, where he struggled to even lie down. But thankfully, he has since been able to get back on his bike.

“There was a little bit of trepidation at first, but after five minutes it was like I’d never been off the bike and it felt marvellous to be out riding again.

Speaking of Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Paul said: “To the Paramedics who came out in the air ambulance that day, I can’t say enough really. Where would I be without them? Without their help I might still be at the side of the road somewhere.”

The episode of Helicopter ER which will be shown on Channel Really at 10 PM on Tuesday 30th November also features a cardiac arrest and two elderly people trapped in a car.

Wentbridge House Hotel has reached an impressive £50,000 fundraising milestone for Yorkshire Air Ambulance after a decade of support for the Charity.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) is an independent Charity providing life-saving rapid emergency response to five million people across four million acres of Yorkshire. Last year, the Charity responded to 1,365 incidents across the region.

Wentbridge House is a luxury four-star multi-award-winning country house hotel, restaurant, and wedding venue in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, just a short drive away from the YAA’s Nostell airbase.

Over the years, Wentbridge House has supported Yorkshire Air Ambulance in a multitude of ways, including playing host to three big events marking annual Yorkshire Day celebrations, providing raffle prizes for fundraising events, hosting Charity luncheon’s, as well asking hotel guests for a £1 donation to Yorkshire Air Ambulance for every room booked.

Catherine Hardy, General Manager of Wentbridge House said: “We are grateful that our guests are as keen as we are to support The Yorkshire Air Ambulance. We’re of course proud of this achievement and will continue to raise funds where we can and hopefully we’ll soon be at the £100,000 mark!”

Kerry Dwyer, Fundraising Director (South & West) for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “We would like to thank Wentbridge House for their continued support and generosity over the last 10 years and congratulate them on achieving their phenomenal £50,000 fundraising milestone.

It costs £12,000 a day to keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances maintained and in the air and the money raised will help significantly towards the vital funding of our service.”

If you would like to find out how your organisation can get involved with Yorkshire Air Ambulance, visit the Corporate and Business Partnerships section of our website here.

A Halifax boy who saved his dad’s life after he had a cardiac arrest when out running around a local sports pitch is set to appear on Yorkshire Air Ambulance reality television show, Helicopter ER next week.

On March 8^th 2021, Jules Collett, and his 12-year-old son Henry from Hipperholme, Halifax were out running when Jules turned to his son and said that he didn’t feel well.

“I turned to Henry and said I didn’t feel too well and that I was going to collapse, and moments later I did”, said Jules.

Henry, who had only recently completed CPR training at his school, Hipperholme Grammar, and local Sea Cadets club, said: “It was quite scary because he didn’t know what was going on. I knew something had happened because he wasn’t breathing. I said in my head do what you were taught, the next few minutes can save your dad’s life or end very badly.”

Henry began CPR until a jogger appeared and took over whilst Henry ran to get the defibrillator from the nearby Rugby ground.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance dispatched their Nostell aircraft and treated Jules on-scene. He was then taken to Calderdale Royal Infirmary by land ambulance.

Jules spent five days in an induced coma but thankfully made a good recovery. Henry’s actions saved his dad’s life, against all the odds.

“When my dad first woke up, I was so relieved because I still had my dad”, said Henry.

Speaking of his son’s heroic efforts, Jules said: “Hearing Henry talk about what happened that night makes me really impressed and proud of him. I’m so grateful to him. To see what he did from the knowledge he got and he had the confidence to do it, it’s incredible.”

Since his cardiac arrest, Jules has resumed cycling, running and taking part in the couch to 5k challenge with his son. “The swift work by Henry and the medical team’s on-scene gave me a far better chance of recovery and I’ve been able to resume an active life. I’m very thankful for all their help.”

The episode of Helicopter ER which will be shown on Channel Really at 10 PM on Tuesday 16th November also features a serious head injury in Wetherby and a farm accident in the Yorkshire Dales.

A boy from Thirsk whose eyes were accidentally glued together after mistaking super glue for eye drops is set to appear on Helicopter ER tomorrow.

In February 2021, nine-year-old Rupert Day sustained a nasty eye injury due to grit in his eyeball. He had been on eye drops for two days when his dad accidentally picked up super glue instead of the drops when giving him his treatment.

Rupert’s dad Kevin said: “Rupert scratched his eye a few days ago and we were given some eye cream. I went to put it in and then realised I had put superglue in his eye instead. I phoned 999 who advised us to keep flushing it and they said an ambulance was on its way. I wasn’t expecting the air ambulance.”

Due to the close proximity of their airbase to the incident, Yorkshire Air Ambulance dispatched their Topcliffe aircraft and was first on the scene. Their Paramedics bathed Rupert’s eye and administered pain relief until the land ambulance was able to take him to Harrogate Hospital for further treatment.

“I had a massive fear that I had blinded my son and ruined his life”, said Rupert’s Dad.

Speaking of his incident, Rupert said: “I was worried if my eye would open again.”

Rupert spent a few hours in the hospital and couldn’t open his eye for four scary days. But thankfully no glue had gone into his eye and his vision has been completely fine following his traumatic ordeal.

The episode of Helicopter ER which will be shown on Channel Really at 10 PM on Tuesday 2nd November also features a cardiac arrest in Ilkley and a DIY incident in South Yorkshire.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5 million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,300 missions every year. The Charity operates two, state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters and needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep saving lives.

Bob Smailes, North East Regional Fundraising Manager for Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) has officially retired after an incredible 20 years of service for the charity.

Bob joined the charity in 2001 and has not only been one of the charity’s longest-serving fundraisers, but he has been an integral part of shaping the Yorkshire Air Ambulance fundraising team. He has helped grow the charity and mentored and supported many of their past and present fundraising staff.

Over his 20 year career at the YAA, Bob has raised around £12million and it is estimated that he has driven 300,000 miles visiting fundraisers and supporters, many of who have now become firm life-long friends.

Many people will know Bob as ‘Mr Air Ambulance’ due to the rapport he has built within the East and North Yorkshire regions. His passion for charity has helped him win over the people of Yorkshire’ hearts and form many key relationships across Yorkshire, which has enabled the YAA to become the charity they are today.

Helen Callear, Director of Fundraising North East, said: “Bob has been an outstanding fundraiser almost from the very start of the Charity’s journey, and we have all learned a lot from him, enjoyed many happy times with him and I know that he will always hold a special place in everyone’s hearts. Bob has time for people, understanding and engaging with donors and colleagues alike, with warmth, character, and energy.

Peter Sunderland, Yorkshire Air Ambulance Chairman, said: “We would like to thank Bob for all his contributions to the charity over the last 20 years. He has always gone above and beyond in his role and it has been a privilege to work alongside him.

Bob has been a pivotal member of our fundraising team and we’re incredibly sad to see him go. On behalf of Yorkshire Air Ambulance, we would like to wish Bob and his wife Jeanette all the very best for a long, healthy and happy retirement.”

Bob added: “I’m very proud of where the charity has come over the last 20 years, from a small Portakabin at Leeds Bradford Airport to the state-of-the-art leading air ambulance charity it is today. I have attended so many incredible events and met lots of wonderful supporters and donors over the years, and I’m sad to say goodbye to charity after 20 incredible years.”

Bob hopes to spend his retirement enjoying more holidays with his wife Jeanette and spending time with their family and friends.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5 million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,300 missions every year. The Charity operates two, state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters and needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep saving lives.

A woman and her two children who were involved in a head on collision when a vehicle was travelling on the wrong side of the road, is set to appear on YAA reality series Helicopter ER tonight

In December 2020, Maura Jones, her two daughters and family dog from Rathmell near Settle, were in the car on the way home on the A682 near Hellifield when they saw headlights on the wrong side of the road and suddenly collided with an oncoming vehicle.

Speaking of the incident, Maura said: “We were driving home in the evening so it was dark and we came across a slight dip in the road. It wasn’t until I got to the top of the hill that I saw the car lights on the wrong side of the road. There wasn’t time to do anything.

I just remember screaming, the sound of the crash, and the noise and we went backwards and hit the wall.”

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance were dispatched immediately to scene, and due to the incident happening in the dark, the mission was flown using Night Vision technology. Pilots and navigational crew on board the helicopters wear Night Vision goggles to enable them to identify hazards and obstacles late at night when approaching landing sites. Night Vision status was granted to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance back in September 2017 and has enabled the lifesaving rapid response service the ability to extend their operational hours into darkness.

Their Critical Care Team treated Maura and her two daughters aged 13 and 23. Due to her serious injuries, Maura was flown to Leeds General Infirmary and her daughters were taken to Airedale hospital by land ambulance.

Their family dog who was flung from the car boot was rescued by bystanders from a nearby field.

“My first thought was is everybody okay, all sorts of scary thoughts were going through my head. I could tell my face was bleeding and I had glass in my mouth. My chest also really hurt”, said Maura.

She continued: “I felt terrified when I was separated from the girls because I knew they were going off in the road ambulance seeing their mum badly hurt in an air ambulance.”

Tests at Leeds General Infirmary revealed that Maura had broken 10 ribs, her sternum and ankle and she suffered a small vertebrae fracture and muscular pain. Her daughters also both required hospital treatment and suffered from shock and emotional distress following the incident. Luckily their family pet only had a few cuts from the crash.

Maura had a three night hospital stay and her recovery has been challenging. She still has flashbacks of that day when driving, and suffers from stiffness and pain in her ankles. Maura, who previously led a very active lifestyle cannot wait to get back to her former fitness levels to walk the Yorkshire peaks.

Maura was lucky to survive and she’s thankful for the air ambulance team’s help that night. “Having the air ambulance where we live, as remotely as we do out here, is an amazing facility and an absolute god send. It got me to hospital in approximately 20 minutes, when the journey by road would have been double. I know we’ve been lucky when I think what the other outcome could have been, we’re all still here, and we’re all together and still strong as a family. I feel very grateful.”

The episode of Helicopter ER which will be shown on Channel Really at 10PM on Tuesday 5^th October also features a biker injured in Beverley and a woman who had a medical episode in Ripon.

A man who tragically died after a cardiac arrest and went on to save two people’s lives thanks to organ donation appeared on the hit TV series Helicopter ER last week.

On 1^st September 2020, 76-year-old Geoff Blackman experienced chest pain while driving on A61 near Ripon. His wife of 51 years, Verity, had to steer the car to safety and flag down passing motorists to help perform CPR.

Speaking of her late husband, Verity said: “He started gasping as we were driving and I noticed he was going to pass out so I steered the car off the carriageway.”  Verity then called 999.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance dispatched their Topcliffe aircraft to the scene, and their Paramedics, alongside the emergency services continued CPR and administered vital medical treatment.

Verity continued:” I realized it was a heart attack or a stroke and all the time, my eyes were going to Geoff lying on the grass. Someone stopped, a woman who I have no idea who she was and she put her arm around me and said come away and then I heard some shout he’s got a pulse he’s breathing, but his face was still blue so I knew it was serious.

Geoff was then taken to Harrogate hospital by road ambulance. He was put on a ventilator and doctors did all they could to save him, but he sadly passed away four days later.

Verity said: “The consultant came and told me that they had done a scan and there was serious brain damage. I said in that case I couldn’t let him go on like that. Geoff and I had had that important conversation several times. Neither of us wanted to live without a quality of life. I said that I did not want him kept on life support if there was no hope of recovery.

I gave my permission for his organs to be harvested and stayed at the hospital until 1.45 am the next morning and the doctors came to tell me that all the tests had been carried out and that the organs were suitable for donation. They removed the ventilator and I held his hand and said darling it’s time to go.”

Geoff’s wishes of being an organ donor subsequently saved two people’s lives who were suffering from life-limiting kidney damage after they received his kidneys.

“He would be pleased that his wishes to be an organ donor were carried out. His kidneys found patients both of whom were on dialysis, and just before Christmas last year I received a letter from a lady who had received one of his kidneys. She was in her 60s and had suffered kidney disease for many years.  She hadn’t expected to live until that Christmas and she thanked me for saving her life”, said Verity.

Verity is grateful to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and everyone who helped that day. “There’s a phrase called ‘the kindness of strangers, which I experienced that day. Total strangers, I had never set eyes on before, and they stopped and they helped and did everything they could to help him and comfort me”, she said.

Geoff and Verity were together for 52 years. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Great Britain for 40 years. He had been president of three different clubs, one in East Devon, one in North Devon and the Rotary Club of Ripon.“He was a man who gave and gave himself and his time to other people. He was always willing to help people if he had the knowledge and they wanted help. He didn’t judge people, he saw the best in them”, said Verity.

She continued: “When someone is a registered donor and they can be a donor, it is important that they are quickly taken to a hospital and the air ambulance is very important in this situation.”

Monday 20^th September – Sunday 26^th September is National Organ Donation Week. The Donor Family Organisation, for people who have lost a loved one who donated organs, are doing a walk on Saturday 25^th  through the centre of Harrogate to engage people in conversation and ask about organ donation.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5 million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,300 missions every year. The Charity operates two, state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters and needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep saving lives.

Sowood Women’s Institute, one of the largest groups in West Yorkshire Federation, have launched a cookbook to raise vital funds for Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA).

The cookbook, called ‘A little book of Yorkshire Yum – a recipe collection from Sowood WI’ was produced by the group during the second lockdown, and consists of an eclectic mix of recipes from WI members past and present and guest contributors including the Yorkshire Air Ambulance crew with their banana and blueberry muffins, and local TV chef Brian Turner who submitted his favourite sage and lamb cobbler.

Described as ‘frankly fantastic food from fabulous folk’ the cookbook has 78 recipes ranging from culinary classics such as Nettle soup, scones and parkin to innovative takes on modern world food which include the Samosa Pie and a speedy Thai green curry. The cookbook also contains gluten free, vegetarian and vegan recipes.

Retired Yorkshire born potter and artist, Pat Kaye, illustrated the recipes throughout the cookbook and the traditional and quintessential style front cover. Each of the recipes have handwritten style text which evokes a heart-warming sense of reading someone’s much loved, passed down family recipes.

The illustrations were drawn during an emotionally challenging time for Pat when her husband was terminally ill. Speaking of her drawing, Pat said: “When my husband went to bed at night, I kept doing a few drawings until I had worked my way through the book. Art is very therapeutic for me and I love drawing.”

Pat was also keen to get involved with the project having experienced being airlifted by another air ambulance charity when she fell and broke her ankle whilst walking her dog in a remote area in North Wales.

The official cookbook launch will take place at the Sowood Community Centre on 11^th September at 2pm and local residents are invited to sample some of the mouth-watering recipes the cookbook has to offer, and to learn more about the charity it is supporting with stalls from Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Julie Astbury, current Sowood WI President said: “The recipes in this collection have been collected with love -love for the friends for whom we have made the recipes; love for the memories they evoke; love for the friends and relatives who first wrote them down and made them family favourites and love for the sheer joy of making and eating our food!  We were also very fortunate to receive a recipe from TV Chef and fellow Yorkshireman Brian Turner so we are absolutely delighted with his contribution to our fabulous cookbook.”

Helen Berriman, West Yorkshire Community Fundraiser for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “We would like to thank Sowood WI for their continuous support and generosity and we are delighted to have been chosen as the beneficiary for the proceeds of this cookbook.  It really is a truly beautiful book and we know it is going to be very popular as all the recipes sound wonderful!

It costs £12,000 a day to keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances maintained and in the air and the money raised from the cookbook will help greatly towards our vital funding and enable us to keep both of our helicopters airborne and saving lives across the region.”

The ‘Little book of Yorkshire Yum’ costs £10 plus postage and packaging and all the proceeds go to Yorkshire Air Ambulance. To order your copy, please visit: https://sowoodwi.com/little-book-yorkshire-yum