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Emergency services join forces to drive home drink-drive message
Don't get behind the wheel after drinking, or this could happen to you. That was the sobering message being driven home to motorists by members of the emergency services (on Tuesday 11 December 2012) as they hauled a wrecked car into Marlborough High Street.
The warning was issued as the emergency services brace themselves for the busiest time of the year, when a lethal cocktail of booze and bad weather lead to more crashes on Wiltshire's roads.
The car was involved in a fatal road traffic accident in April 2011 on the A342 Devizes-to-Upavon road at Conock.
The female driver – who was over the drink-drive limit – left the road at speed while negotiating a bend and hit a tree.
The roadshow brought memories flooding back for Marlborough GP and Swift Medics doctor Jonathan Glover.
Dr Jonathan, along with his colleague Dr James Mapstone, treated the woman at the scene.
“When we got there, members of the fire and rescue team were lifting her from the wrecked car, the ambulance was already there and the air ambulance was landing” he recalled.
“She was seriously injured. The SWIFT Medics and emergency service's teams worked heroically using all the technology and the advanced skills available to support her life.
“I accompanied her in the Wiltshire Air Ambulance to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol. Because of its shared police role and the additional specialised equipment it carries, the Wiltshire Air Ambulance is one of very few air ambulances in the country that can fly at night.
“She was unconscious throughout the whole thing; she wouldn't have known what was going on.”
Sandra Hahn never regained consciousness. She died of her injuries 11 days after the crash.
“She received the best possible treatment, but sometimes that's just not enough,” said Dr Jonathan.
“SWIFT Medics doctors get involved in these public events because it is important for people to see the consequences of drinking and driving.
“I would rather spend an afternoon telling people to drive safely than a night trying to save their lives.”
Sergeant Craig Hardy from the serious collision investigation team at Police HQ in Devizes had this advice for drivers: “The message is simple: Don't drink and drive; don't take the risk.”
An inquest in March this year heard that 22-year-old Miss Hahn had consumed five pints of lager and a pint of bitter before getting behind the wheel of her mother's left hand drive Mazda estate car.
A blood sample taken five hours after the accident showed she was still over the drink-drive limit. Police investigators estimated Miss Hahn was driving at 70mph when she left the road, and hit the tree at 42mph.
Assistant deputy coroner Dr Claire Balsyz recorded a verdict of accidental death.
Driver has a lucky escape
A driver had a very lucky escape on Tuesday 11 December 2012 after his car hit a tree, and a branch was thrust through his side window.
The accident happened in icy conditions on a unclassified road at Mill Lane, east of Lechlade, Gloucestershire.
Dr Jonathan Glover of Swift Medics was the first medic at the scene.
He said: “The car was stuck in a ditch. It would seem the car had hit a tree, and a branch had gone through the driver's side window.
“I checked that he was conscious and breathing and that there were no signs of spinal injury. Following these routine checks he was able to leave the car unassisted.”
The incident, which happened at around 8.50am, was also attended by Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue and by paramedics, and the air ambulance was scrambled.
Help Swift Medics by playing the Unity Lottery
If you enjoy playing the lottery, then help Swift Medics by playing the Unity Lottery.
You could win up to £25,000 every week, and half of what you pay goes to Swift Medics.
One of our trustees, Bob Holman launched the lottery at our charity dinner on 24 November 2012.
For details, visit www.unitylottery.co.uk/SWIFTMedics
So have fun playing and donate to Swift Medics at the same time.
Swift medics fundraising dinner raises £3,000
We raised £3,000 at our annual charity dinner on 24 November 2012.
The £3,000 proceeds from an auction and raffle is the equivalent to around a third of the cost of training and equipping a new doctor for Swift Medics.
The fundraising dinner, at Bowood Hotel near Calne, attracted 100 guests, who bid for auction lots including a ride in a 193mph Ferrari California, courtesy of Swindon supercar dealership Dick Lovett, a Watlings bracelet, a Pia fresh water pearl necklace, a photo shoot with Hallmark Photographers, drum lessons with musician Tom Wheeler, who has performed on Radio 1's Live Lounge, cases of wine, and paint balling.
Big thanks to everyone involved, especially the evening's organiser, Lin Wheeler.
Pictured the Swift Medics team: Dr Jonathan Glover, Dr Sam Bracken, Dr James Dunn, Ruth Willoughby, Dr Dan Bawden, Dr Alex Cross, Dr Ed Valentine, Dr James Mapstone. Photo by Kevin Hall, Hallmark Photography, Calne.
Queens Diamond Jubilee Medals
SWIFT Medics are proud to announce that Drs. James Dunn & Jonathan Glover
have each been awarded The Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal for their work with
the Emergency Services over the last five years.
Trowbridge Fire Station 5 for 50
Best of luck to the team cycling to all 24 Wiltshire Fire and Rescue stations in 24 hours starting at Trowbridge on Saturday 28th April. We hope you raise lots of money for your charities including SWIFT Medics.
Wiltshire Life Magazine -- Community Group of the Year
SWIFT Medics win Wiltshire Life Magazine Community Group of the Year
Dr James Dunn and Dr Jonathan Glover are both to receive a Chief Officers Commendation 2011
This year's Chief Officers Commendations have been announced and two SWIFT Medics scheme members Dr James Dunn, Swindon and Dr Jonathan Glover, Marlborough are both to receive an award. The photographs are below. Well done to both of them & thankyou to GWAS for hosting the reception.
James Dunn is on the Left of the picture
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Jonathan Glover is 7th from the Right
Dr Adam Brownhill receives Chief Officers Commendation
Dr Adam Brownhill, a GP in Bristol and a member of SWIFT Medics has been awarded a Chief Officers Commendation from the Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS) following his attendance at what was described as a most horrendous accident in March 2010. A woman and her two young children were critically injured and thanks to the care received at scene all survived to be transferred to hospital.
Dr Brownhill is second on the left in the photograph
Family Fun Day at The Clifton Inn, Swindon raises money for SWIFT Medics
A very successful family fun day hosted by Wendy and Simon Harrison at the Clifton Inn has raised money for SWIFT Medics.
Charity status
Swift were delighted to welcome friends and supporters to a evening at the Bear Hotel to celebrate our charity status.
Marathon des Sables
6 marathons in 7 days
A Wiltshire dad is raising thousands of pounds to help the doctors who saved his sons life. Simon Benney's running the equivalent of 6 marathons in 7 days in the Sahra desert from today.
Simon Benney said: "They saved my son's life. My third son got hit by a car and a swift medic doctor helped him within 5 minutes and saved him so that's very important for me."
"Temperatures are around 35 to 40 degrees; it's a lot of miles 250 kilometers. You carry all your kit, all your food, all your medical kit, all your clothes. It’s one of the toughest marathons. A lot of guys don't make it, they have to bail out, and there are one or two deaths unfortunately."
He's also raising money for the Princes' Trust.
You can sponsor Simon here
You can find out more about Swift medics here
Simon Benney completed the full 250Km of the 25th Marathon des Sables on Saturday 10th April. Well done Simon, he looks as though he’s just run to the shops & back till you look at his feet ;-(
http://www.darbaroud.com/index_uk.php is the Marathon des Sables website in English
SWIFT Medics Called to serious incidents:
Collision involving mother & two sons on way to school 30th March. Dr Brownhill treated 3 very seriously injured patients & received the Ambulance Chief’s Commendation for his actions. Well done Adam.
Dr Dunn & Dr Glover attended & treated two teenaged boys involved in a serious collision between their car & an HGV lorry on the A338 Burbage to Hungerford Road on 15th April.
