Children's Air Ambulance Lottery Confusion

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People in the Sussex area are being approached to join a lottery run by the Children’s Air Ambulance, which is being confused with their Counties own Air Ambulance.

Air Ambulances run lotteries to raise valuable funds to support their life-saving Helicopter Emergency Medical Services. Sussex Air Ambulance has its own lottery which has a top prize of £1,000 every week.

The Children’s Air Ambulance is a registered charity that has been fundraising since it was first established in 2005. However despite fundraising for the last four years the charity still does not have an aircraft and it would seem that it will be some considerable time before they will have enough funding to secure one.

John Tickner, Chief Executive of the Sussex Air Ambulance said ‘We first heard of the Children’s Air Ambulance about three years ago, but have heard nothing since. However we have had calls to say that they are canvassing in Sussex and we are concerned that the public may think that they are supporting their own local Air Ambulance, which does of course already respond to medical emergencies involving people of all ages. If people are approached to join an Air Ambulance lottery, it would be worth making sure that they know which Air Ambulance they will be supporting.’

Medical Director for Sussex Air Ambulance, Ramzi Freij said ‘We have been in discussions about paediatric emergencies with existing hospital teams and only a few weeks ago transferred a critically injured child in Sussex. However, in the light of our discussions we are unsure of the need for a dedicated children’s air ambulance’.

Sussex Air Ambulance is called to an average of three serious medical emergencies every day. The helicopter is fully equipped with the necessary kit for all types of injuries and patients of all ages, from babies to the elderly. The specialist doctor and paramedic team often carry out invasive medical procedures at the scene before transferring the patient to an appropriate hospital. The £1.7 million a year needed to fly the life-saving helicopter is raised almost entirely through voluntary donations.