ST JOHN'S TOWNSWOMEN'S GUILD (From Worcester News)

ST JOHN'S TOWNSWOMEN'S GUILD

9:37am Tuesday 20th March 2007 in

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AT the February meeting of St John's Townsowmen's Guild the chairman, Jean Heywood, told members that the committee members would continue with their selected duties, apart from a new treasurer, who would be Joan Salisbury.

The walkers group began the year with a lunch and plan to walk in the Wyre forest. Liz Chambers said there would be a choice of a short or slightly longer walk. Both the handicraft and line dancing groups are looking forward to an enjoyable year.

Mr Worthington spoke to us about the air ambulance service. This wonderful facility is run entirely by voluntary contributions from the public. They receive no money from the Government or the NHS. Lottery money cannot be used to fund it either.

Many European countries have been running their own air ambulance services for many years, but Britain only began in Cornwall in 1989. This proved to be most successful in reaching inaccessible areas more quickly than the road ambulance. It was also able to land on sloping areas and other difficult terrain. This air ambulance was only available for three days a week until more funds were available.

A second helicopter was commissioned in 1991 and this covered a huge stretch of central England. Within four years it had proved so successful that it was able to fly seven days a week, and was available for 24-hours a day.

By 1997, a second air ambulance for the Midlands was funded and a third one began working in 1999.

The three ambulances cover an area of more than 8,000 square miles of central England. They guarantee to reach an accident within eight minutes, and the paramedics in the crew can begin attending to the patient immediately.

In case of an emergency, the paramedics must be not only highly medically trained but also be able to fly the helicopter.

Each helicopter is equipped with the latest medical services and many lives have been saved by the wonderful work of the crews in the golden hour' before their arrival in hospital.

The training for the paramedics is highly specialised, and frequent re-training is undertaken to keep them up to date with new technology.

Without the skill and dedication of the crew, many lives would not have been saved. This service would not be available without the continued help from ordinary people who help to fund it.

Let us hope that another air ambulance will soon be flying and bringing skill, care and much needed medical help wherever it is needed.

Doreen Douglas, our president, handed Mr Worthington a cheque for the charity. The money was our Christmas collection from the guild members.

The April guild meeting will be on Thursday 19, when the speaker will be Garth Lowe, who will give a talk on the natural history of the Dordogne and the Pyrenees.

All meetings are held at Bromyard Road Methodist Church hall starting at 7.30pm. Visitors are most welcome to join us.