Could YOU become a St John Ambulance First Aider?

St John Ambulance are looking for volunteers to join their team of First Aiders. You will be trained to a high standard to provide first aid treatment to patients at events covered by St John Ambulance in the community, at concerts, sports events etc. at local, regional and national level.

No previous training is required – it will all be provided – they just look for a desire to help people and the readiness to deal with situations that can be distressing. 

Click here for more details - the closing date is 28/02/2017 and interviews will be held on 08/03/2017.

Rodford Way crash site in the cold light of day

Tony Davis at the bus stop -
it's still standing, but very badly danaged

We thought you might like to see the extent of the damage to the Rodford Way bus stop following Thursday evening's crash. It doesn't look too bad as you drive past, but when Cllr Tony Davis visited site to check it out it was clear that it's a write-off. We will report back when we know a bit more about the circumstances of the accident.

Yet another accident at Yate blackspot

At around 8.25 pm this evening (Thursday 15 January) a car collided with a bus stop on Rodford Way, Yate near the Abbotswood underpass. The car appeared very badly damaged and the bus stop was a write-off. The Police, Ambulance Service and Fire and Rescue attended but it is not known what the extent of injuries might be or whether anyone else was involved.

There have been numerous accidents at this spot, including one child fatality in 2008.

South Gloucestershire Councillor Tony Davis (Lib Dem, Dodington) said "Whatever the cause of this particular accident, the number of serious incidents along this short stretch of road means there could be serious underlying issues"

"When the circumstances of this accident become clearer we shall be calling for a full joint review of this road by the Highway Authority and the Police"

Update 16/01/2015: The Gazette reports "A man was treated at the scene for minor injuries" - sounds like a lucky escape.

This video could save a child's life - #TheChokeables

Please watch and share this video. Find out how to save a choking baby with #TheChokeables – the new advert from St John Ambulance:

Council Chairman to skydive for charity

The Chairman of South Gloucestershire Council, Ladden Brook Ward Councillor Howard Gawler, will plunge 10,000 feet from a plane on Sunday 7 September to raise money for charity.

Howard will be undertaking a tandem skydive to raise funds for the South Gloucestershire based Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC), one of his chosen Chair’s charities for the year. This will involve him free-falling through the air (without the parachute deployed) for 5,000 feet at around 120 mph, before safely parachuting to the ground. He will be harnessed to a professional parachute instructor at all times throughout the descent. Howard's niece Sarah Farthing, from Wick in South Gloucestershire, will also be taking part in the skydive.

Howard said: “I’m really looking forward to my debut skydive in aid of this very worthy cause, the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity. Any one of us may be thankful for the air ambulance’s life saving services at some point in our lives and I’m proud to give them my support."

“The charity doesn’t receive any government or National Lottery funding, which means they rely entirely on the generosity of local people to continue operating. I hope to raise as much money for them as possible, so please visit the dedicated Just Giving page to sponsor my jump or to make a donation.”

To make a donation please visit the Chair’s Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/ChairsCharity2014

You can find out more about the Great Western Air Ambulance at www.greatwesternairambulance.com

The future of the Air Ambulance Service at Filton

If Filton Airfield closes, it's essential that the Great Western Air Ambulance stays based at Filton. It's different from the neighbouring air ambulance services, which concentrate on transporting patients. Ours is a true Helicopter Emergency Medical Service, and has a specialist trauma consultant on board - it's one of only four such specialist services in the UK.

The site at Filton is strategically located so that the helicopter can get to any serious incident within our area as quickly as possible. If it had to be moved to Staverton for example, response times would become longer and lives would be at risk.

Please let South Glos Council know what you feel about this by commenting on their Filton Airfield Position Statement (also available in libraries and at One Stop Shops)

Comments need to be made by July 29th to planningLDF@southglos.gov.uk or by post to South Gloucestershire Council, Spatial Planning Team, PO Box 2081, South Gloucestershire, BS35 9BP.

The Air Ambulance is run by a local charity - check out the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity website here

Accidents and the Air Ambulance

Over the last few days the Air Ambulance was called to two accidents in Yate, one at Eggshill Lane and one in Church Road. This made us think...

• Was the helicopter being used because of serious traffic problems?
• Will this become normal if all those extra houses come to Yate, bringing lots of extra traffic?
• How much does this cost compared to a normal ambulance?
• Will the helicopter be needed more when Frenchay Hospital closes and people have to be transported to Southmead?
• What happens when Filton Airfield closes?

Of course we don't know the circumstances that applied to these two accidents - it may be that the air ambulance was the most appropriate method of providing treatment.

But do any of our readers have comments or relevant background information on the service?

Concerned about local ambulance services?

The South Gloucestershire LINk, set up to enable the whole community to have a say in local health and social care issues, is currently gathering views on local ambulance services for the Great Western Ambulance Joint Health Scrutiny Committee.

You can send comments to epowell@swindon.gov.uk by the 10 October on how
satisfied you are with ambulance services in your area, anything you would
like to change about the ambulance services in your area and any issues that
you think the committee should consider in more detail.

Local MP Steve Webb challenged the Great Western Ambulance Service earlier in the year about the impact on journey times of Frenchay being downgraded.

(Thanks to our sister blog for this item)