Thames Valley Air Ambulance treated 140 children last year, figures show

As Thames Valley Air Ambulance celebrates its summer raffle, it has released figures announcing the number of children it saved in 2021, writes Kyra Radley.

Throughout last year it treated 140 children, taking the total number of patients treated since it became an independent healthcare provider in 2018 to 789.

Of the patients saved this year more than half were under five years old.

The fundraising raffle this year is overlooked by mother Laura and her son Charlie who was treated by TV Air Ambulance when he, at two months old, stopped breathing.

More on their story here: https://www.tvairambulance.org.uk/lauras-story/

A critical care paramedic, James Perks, said: “We are called out to treat the most seriously ill and injured patients across the Thames Valley, so the stakes are always high.

"But when that patient is a young child, it can be an even bigger challenge.

“Our team is specially trained in how to treat young patients and we always carry paediatric equipment on board all our vehicles.

"We know that time is of the essence and we fight to give every patient everything we’ve got.”

The summer raffle will help to raise money for the charity so it can continue to complete its life-saving work.

To find out more about the raffle, go to www.tvairambulance.org.uk