Thursday 3rd July 2014 – 4.55pm – Claire Brown.
West Midlands Ambulance Service will be providing three four wheeled vehicles and six two legged staff to take part in the world’s biggest two wheel challenge; the Tour de France.
The three ambulance crews will be heading north to Yorkshire this weekend when the county hosts the ‘Grand Depart’ – the opening two stages of this year’s event.
With an estimated two million visitors expected to descend upon “God’s Own Country”, WMAS is providing the mutual aid to support colleagues in Yorkshire Ambulance Service to provide medical cover along the route of the race.
Hazardous Area Response Team Support Manager, John Woodhall, who organised the aid, said: “We’re privileged to be supporting the Tour De France as it passes through Yorkshire.
“Our ambulance crews will be on hand to provide emergency medical help to spectators and residents alike by working shoulder-to-shoulder with our Yorkshire colleagues and other neighbouring ambulance services over the weekend.
“As an ambulance service we’re proud to be showing the rest of the world how our emergency services work together to provide the best care possible to patients.
“I am sure it will be as much of a memorable occasion for the staff as it will be for the millions of cycle fans who will be there to see the peloton as it heads through the towns, villages and countryside of Yorkshire.”
The three ambulances and six staff, who come from Bromsgrove, Birmingham (x2), Nuneaton, Solihull and Wolverhampton, are heading to Yorkshire on Friday evening and will be returning on Sunday evening. The vehicles and staff are in addition to the Trust’s own ambulance cover so do not to deplete resources in the West Midlands.
Hear John Woodhall talk about the team going to Yorkshire:
Ends