This Christmas we’re asking the public to consider giving the gift of a donation to help keep our critical care team operational over the festive period.
GNAAS is entirely charitably funded and needs to raise £9.3m a year to continue responding to incidents 365 days a year.
Over the period of the Christmas holidays between 24 December and 1 January, the charity’s critical care team respond to an average of 38 incidents across the North East, Cumbria and the Isle of Man.
The most common incidents they attend are cardiac arrests, road traffic collisions, falls and assaults.
One of the people they helped was Michelle Hand, 60, who suffered a cardiac arrest at her home in Crook on Christmas Day in 2022.
Recalling the incident, Mrs Handm who was 59 at the time, said: “My husband dialled 999 and was talked through how to do CPR on myself until paramedics arrived to take over. I was then carried out on a stretcher into an open field where the air ambulance waited for me.”
Mrs Hand was put into a medically induced coma by GNAAS’ paramedic doctor team and airlifted to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough for further treatment.
She spent seven weeks in hospital, including three weeks in intensive care, and was subsequently diagnosed with heart disease and heart failure.
She said: “I am eternally grateful for the guys that saved my life and I have been told I am a walking miracle.”
On the same day GNAAS’ team helped Mrs Hand, they responded to reports of an assault, a road traffic collision and three medical-related incidents.
David Stockton, chief executive officer at GNAAS, said: “Whilst most people will be spending time with their families and friends over the festive period, our pilots, doctors and paramedics will be on standby ready to respond to those who are unfortunate enough to be critically ill or injured.
“This is only possible thanks to the continued generosity of the public, and while we understand that times are tough for some, we would really appreciate it if people and businesses considered adding GNAAS to their gift list.
“The donations we receive will ensure we can continue saving people’s lives and help keep families together this Christmas”
To make a donation to GNAAS click here or call 01325 487263.
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