South Western Ambulance Charity Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Supporting Emergency Services

The South Western Ambulance Charity marks three decades of support for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT), its staff, volunteers, and the communities it serves. Over the past 30 years, the charity has played a vital role in enhancing care and support for patients in critical moments. The charity has funded initiatives such as staff wellbeing programs, cardiac emergency response apps, defibrillator placement, and volunteer equipment, leading to improved survival rates from life-threatening emergencies.

Key Takeaways:

• The South Western Ambulance Charity has supported staff wellbeing by funding social support grants to enhance health and wellbeing, with over 50 ambulance stations benefiting from outdoor space improvements in the past year.
• The charity has helped save lives in cardiac emergencies by funding the pilot of the GoodSAM Responder app, which connects trained responders to deliver CPR with nearby cardiac arrests.
• The charity has increased access to defibrillators by launching targeted programs to place defibrillators where they are needed most, reducing health inequalities, and helped over 700 schools across the South West correctly install and register defibrillators.
• The charity has equipped volunteers by fundraising for 11 Community Response Vehicles used by SWASFT's volunteer Community First Responders to reach and support patients in local communities.
• The charity has transformed care, strengthened resilience, and empowered communities across the South West, particularly in supporting schemes and projects to improve survival rates from life-threatening emergencies.

Statistics:

• Over 50 ambulance stations have benefited from outdoor space improvements in the past year.
• The charity has funded the pilot of the GoodSAM Responder app.
• Over 700 schools across the South West have correctly installed and registered defibrillators.
• 90% of schools in the South West are now connected to The Circuit, the national defibrillator network.
• 30 years of charity support for SWASFT and the communities it serves has led to improved survival rates from life-threatening emergencies.

Sources:

• "South Western Ambulance Charity celebrates 30 years of supporting South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust" by Crediton Courier, (https://www.creditoncourier.co.uk/news/letters/letter-thank-you-for-beautifully-considered-and-composed-christian-comment-833358)
• Crediton Lions' firewalk aids local charities (https://www.creditoncourier.co.uk/news/crediton-lions-firewalk-aids-local-charities-833163)
• Great fun at Sandford School Donkey Derby (https://www.creditoncourier.co.uk/news/great-fun-at-sandford-school-donkey-derby-833367)