Who is that in the bear costume?!

Looking good as the Critical Care Bear!

Who is that in the bear costume?!

This blog post finds me looking a little different that I usually do - and it is all down to my new job.

I made it my resolution to blog more, but it seems like life has got in the way slightly! Since my last post, more than a month ago, a lot of things have happened - most noticeably starting a new job. I am now the PR and Media Officer at Great Western Air Ambulance Charity, and three weeks in I am loving it :)

My first week was quite daunting. There was so much to remember and learn, and I went home each night with a headache. I think I had forgotten what it was like to be the new girl, as I was at my last job for five years. But things have now started to click into place, and I am really enjoying my new role!

In the engine of a Boeing 747

One of the highlights has to be dressing up as the Critical Care Bear - our new mascot! It is really hard to see where you are going in the costume, as the only eye holes are in the nose. This meant I had to be guided into position. The photo shoot at the airfield saw me hoisted up into the engine of an unused Boeing 747 - quite an experience I can tell you! It was a very good job I was in the bear suit, as I didn't look very lady-like!

Chilling in the helicopter

We also visited the base, and it was very amusing to see the look on the crews faces when I walked in! This part of the day involved more unlady-like hoisting, as I was squashed into the pilots seat of the helicopter for a photo. There is really not much room in there at the best of times, let alone when you are wearing a giant bear head and huge boots! 

With pilot John, paramedic Vicki and doctor Tim

I am enjoying learning more about the air ambulance, and seeing just how important it is that people support the charity. Here are a few things that I have learnt:

*GWAAC is one of the few air ambulances who work to the gold standard Critical Care Model, which means rushing a critical care paramedic and critical care doctor  to the scene. Essentially we are a flying Accident and Emergency Department, bringing the hospital to the patients.

*The team fly seven days a week, 365 days a year and attend more than 100 incidents per month.

*We provide one of the busiest air ambulances in the UK.

*Within five minutes of a 999 call to our base the aircraft is in the air, and no more than 20 minutes later the team are anywhere within the region that we cover. This means that one patient in five – a patient otherwise expected to die – survives.

*We receive no funding from the Government or the National Lottery, which means we rely entirely on the generosity of the people we serve to continue operating.

So as you can see, a really worthwhile charity, and one that needs your support!

I am looking forward to a busy year with the charity, with lots of exciting projects to get my teeth into! And I am such there will be a few blog posts on what we get up to :)