President of Aldridge & District Lions Club, Harry Fry says: “We know that air ambulance charities have been busier than ever during the coronavirus pandemic. They’ve faced considerable extra – unbudgeted – day to day costs – at the same time as lockdown has affected fund-raising.
Now, thanks to an emergency COVID-19 relief grant from the Lions Clubs International Foundation in the US, we can provide immediate support for this emergency service that touches lives in all our local communities.”
Working with Air Ambulances UK, Lions Clubs compiled a list of equipment and supplies needed by individual air ambulance charities – totalling £161,468.
Local Lions have continued to support their communities facing difficulties due to COVID-19. This latest boost for air ambulance charities comes on top of £140,0000 awarded in grants to foodbanks and other causes nominated by Lions clubs across the British Isles.
As well as their ‘day job’ - responding to accidents, traumatic incidents and medical emergencies - air ambulances are supporting the COVID-19 response to help reduce the huge burden on the NHS and other public services.
The equipment and supplies they requested, which has been funded by the Lions Clubs International Foundation grant, includes isolation capsules and decontamination units, separation screens, PPE, ventilators, respirators and hoods, a thermal screening camera and monitoring system, compression devices, fluid warmers, an ultrasound cardiac probe, and mobile connectivity devices.
Heather Benjamin, Chair of Air Ambulances, UK said: “The donation of equipment and supplies by Lions helps air ambulance charities to support the COVID-19 response and their communities in these extraordinary times and beyond.”
About Lions Clubs
Lions Clubs International (LCI) is the largest service organisation in the world. Its 1.4 million members volunteer their time to serve local communities and help good causes in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.
There are 12,000 members in 615 Lions Clubs across the British Isles, which raised over £9 million in 2019 to help those in need.
Since 1968, LCIF (the charitable arm of LCI) has provided grant funding to support local and global humanitarian efforts, including preventing avoidable blindness on a global scale. In August 2019, the Foundation earned its eighth consecutive 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for its effective fiscal management and commitment to accountability and transparency.
Please contact: Lion Mike Barker, 01922 456558 or lionschrismikeb@talktalk.net.
About Air Ambulances
The 20 air ambulance charities based in the British Isles operate 38 helicopters and critical care cars.
Air Ambulance charities receive no day-to-day government funding and are reliant on the generosity of local communities to deliver their lifesaving services. Their funding models vary but they typically have a diversified income portfolio incorporating public fundraising, trusts and grants, retail, and lottery.
Air Ambulances UK is the national organisation representing, supporting and advocating the lifesaving work of the UK’s 21 air ambulance charities and wider air ambulance sector. Collectively, these air ambulance charities are dispatched to 70 missions a day, equating to 25,000 missions a year.
