Engaging in Wear It Red Day goes beyond just having a great photo opportunity; it’s about championing a crucial cause that saves lives in our community. The Midlands Air Ambulance Charity depends on donations and support from events like this to sustain their life-saving operations.

Each year, the cost of maintaining three aircraft and offering a vital service totals £16 million. On average, each air ambulance mission costs £2,950, while each critical care car mission averages £288. The charity does not receive any government or National Lottery funding for its daily operations, relying entirely on the generosity of local individuals and businesses. Since its inception in 1991, the charity has responded to over 76,000 missions, establishing itself as one of the busiest air ambulance services in the UK.

They operate from strategically positioned regional airbases in Cosford, Shropshire; Strensham, on the Worcestershire/Gloucestershire border; and Tatenhill, Staffordshire. Each aircraft is staffed with a crew that includes a pilot, two paramedics, or a paramedic and a flight doctor, equipped with full life-support medical gear. Three rapid response vehicles are dispatched when the helicopters cannot fly, for instance, due to inclement weather.

Starting January 2024, their pre-hospital lifesaving service will be trialing a new clinical operating model, allowing our crew to respond on a 24/7 basis. The charity operates a fleet of critical care cars from 7pm to 8am, manned by critical care paramedics. In emergencies, every second is vital; on average, their crew arrives at the scene within ten minutes, whether by air ambulance or in a critical care car. The charity responds to some of the most severe incidents, including cardiac arrests, road traffic collisions, and sports injuries. Their aircraft can reach remote areas, providing care to patients that land ambulances cannot access.