Anthony, 47, from Murton, County Durham, had jumped on his bike on the morning of 8 January 2017 and made his way the gym. A journey that he makes almost every day. After spending 18 years as a Royal Army Physical Trainer, teaching mountain biking, this short journey was just a drop in the ocean … Continued
Sarah, talk us through your current role? I am head of fundraising at the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS). This means I am responsible for a multidisciplinary team that covers a large geographic area so it’s extremely varied and no two days are the same. I often have to jump from one subject to … Continued
Advances in equipment and training have enabled Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) clinicians to harness the potential of the thoracotomy – which is reserved for those patients not otherwise expected to survive. Since 2017, GNAAS has logged four successful thoracotomies, the most recent being over Christmas 2019. Due to the sensitive nature of the … Continued
At the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS), we are always honoured to hear that we’ve been chosen as charity of the year but the reasons behind one particular company choosing us this year, really touched us. We spoke to Gemma Stokoe, centre manager for Byron Place shopping centre in Seaham, County Durham, on why … Continued
We spoke to GNAAS doctor Dan Bearn about the new intervention which is set to revolutionise the way critical care teams work. Dan, how did you identify that this medical device was around? This specific agent is called Diphoterine ® solution . It has been used in hospital environments for a while now and its … Continued
Some of our volunteers though, know the charity a little better than others… Just a small few of them have been in a situation that has required our life-saving critical care. In their words, here are their stories: Will Clark, Grasmere My name is Will Clark and I am 35 from Grasmere in the Lake … Continued
Here at the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS), we want to put your mind at rest and assure you that almost anyone can sign up, there are no barriers. Every step you take on the treks, will help support GNAAS in providing critical care in Northern England and with a choice between climbing Mount … Continued
It was 9 December 2018. My dad was in the house with his grandson Matthew just mashing the tatties when he collapsed suddenly. He shouted at Matthew to go and get help as we live close, but I wasn’t at home. When I finally got there, I thought that he had just collapsed and fell … Continued
Stephen Dunlop on Catbells Mountain with wife Marion. Moments later he took ill. The 65-year-old from North Shields had been enjoying the walk up Catbells, near Keswick, on 14 May 2019 with his wife Marion when he began to feel sharp stabbing pains in his chest. He said: “I got to the top of … Continued
GNAAS started carrying blood on board all its flights in 2015. The innovation made an instant impact, saving lives across our region. But in the spirit of progress, we wanted to improve the way transfusions were delivered, and so in 2018, we introduced the MEQU blood warmer, which saves even more time, and thus even … Continued
