LAST month, Cornwall Air Ambulance undertook 24 more missions than the previous month throughout Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, 68 in total.

As the weather begins to improve moving into the summer months an increased number of tourists visit the county.

With and increase in visitor numbers comes an increase in the volume of emergencies the paramedic air crews have to attend, which will continue to rise until its peak in August.

Last month’s emergencies were varied and ranged from a paraglider, who had collided with a cliff near Porthcurno, to a road traffic collision at Four Lanes, which resulted in injuries for multiple people including a woman who was flown to the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske.

The air ambulance also attended to nine young children during this month. Among the children that were airlifted to hospital, along with their parents, were a toddler in Trelights who had collapsed and another toddler in St Mabyn who had breathing difficulties. In Rock, a young child had fallen on rocks and had suffered nasty leg injuries, requiring a helicopter since there was no land access.

As the weather improves through the month, more people get out and about and the air ambulance are tasked with an increasing number of accidents in rural locations.

For example, a rider was kicked in the head by her horse near Wadebridge and was flown to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth in 19 minutes. It took the same amount to fly a walker, who had fallen and injured her ankle, from Boscastle to Plymouth — the helicopter was vital in both instances because there was no land access.

Once again, due to no available land access, the helicopter was essential in reaching a runner in Cheesering and flying him to Derriford Hospital in just ten minutes.

Cornwall Air ambulance treated patients suffering acute medical illness in the following locations throughout north Cornwall during April: Callington, where a patient was flown to Derriford Hospital; Crackington Haven; Goonhavern; Launceston; Liskeard; Looe, flown to Derriford Hospital; Menheniot, flown to Derriford Hospital; Polperro, flown to Derriford Hospital; St Mewan, flown to the Royal Cornwall Hospital; Stenalees, flown to the Royal Cornwall Hospital; Tintagel, flown to the Royal Cornwall Hospital and Treyarnon.

The majority of this month’s emergencies were medical in nature rather than those resulting from accidents.

Patients suffering acute medical illness require the immediate pre-hospital critical care that is provided by the paramedic aircrew, which specialises in the treatment of patients on the scene and in the air, enroute to a hospital.

The running cost of the Cornwall Air Ambulance service if solely paid for by donations. To support the vital emergency service they provide, visit cornwallairambulancetrust.org