Supporters regularly tell us about the incredible difference that individuals from the South Western Ambulance Service have made to them or their loved ones at times of health emergencies, responding with care and compassion, day or night.

Help us support the health and wellbeing of our exceptional people as they rise to the challenge of responding to the needs of over 5.5 million residents and around 23 million visitors, resulting in over 1 million patient incidents a year. They travel 22 million miles a year, across 10,000 square miles of the South West.

Whether on the telephone, in the street, or walking through the door, they do a very challenging job.

“When someone puts others first so easily and show so much care and kindness it is important that they know how much they are appreciated.”

“The ambulance service saw things that day that no human should see, they see things like this on a regular basis … allow me to repay the wonderful care they gave to both my dad, and my mum who amazingly survived”.

From providing coffee machines and green spaces at ambulance stations, to welfare visits in 999 call centres and access to specialist therapies, to gifting festive treats to those working at Christmas, help us show them how grateful we all are for what they do for us.

Over 3,000 people experience a cardiac arrest each year in South West communities, but less than 1 in 10 survive.

Once in cardiac arrest, for every minute that passes a person loses a further 10% chance of survival. Fast action is vital.

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a device used to give an electric shock to help restart a patient’s heart when they are in cardiac arrest. When someone has a cardiac arrest, the heart stops and blood is no longer being pumped around their body. The longer they go without emergency life-support, the harder it is to restart their heart.

Every second counts.

South Western Ambulance Charity is supporting access to defibrillators and the lifesaving training to give people the confidence to do CPR and use a defibrillator. Increased public access to defibrillators results in more people receiving a life-saving shock as quickly as possible, giving them the best possible chance of survival.

We can all help to save lives together.

Community First Responders (CFRs) are volunteers who support patients in the communities where they live or work, providing early emergency aid, often ahead of ambulance arrival.

Attending over 34,000 incidents each year, their contributions really do save lives, reduce pain and provide reassurance to those requiring emergency care.

Volunteers could be the first through the door to a patient experiencing a cardiac arrest, a seizure, a stroke or who has had a fall.

Trained and managed by the South Western Ambulance Service, each local CFR Group is provided with a full medical kit. Donations help to buy additional medical response kits and lifesaving equipment, so that more volunteers can book available to respond.

The support that these volunteers give to patients and to the wider South Western Ambulance Service makes a huge difference. At around 10% of incidents that they attend no further resources are needed, freeing up emergency ambulances to attend other life-threatening calls.