Month: February 2015

Tuesday 10th February 2015 – 12.30pm – John Hawker.

A mother and daughter had a lucky escape on the M6 this morning after being in an RTC.

The crash occurred on the M6 Northbound, near Junction 3a at around 8.25am.

An ambulance and a paramedic officer attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Crews arrived to find a car and a HGV that had been involved in a collision.

“The car had apparently ended up spinning around and going backwards down an embankment on the side of the motorway.

“Fortunately for the two occupants the car came to a halt in a small coppice of trees and got wedged before it could go any further.

“The woman driving the car, believed to be in her 30’s, and her teenage daughter, were both shaken up in the crash and were fully checked over by medics at the scene.

“Neither had suffered any serious injuries and after assessments were both discharged.”

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Pictures are able to be used by the media – please credit @officialwmas

 

 

Monday 9^th February 2015 – 4.20pm – Chris Kowalik.

A woman in her twenties has been taken to a major trauma unit following a collision with a car in Birmingham.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Marsh Hill at 1.05pm today.

Two ambulance crews attended.

A West Midland Ambulance Service spokesman said: “The woman had a head injury, a hip injury and a broken leg.

“Her wounds were dressed by crews at the scene, a splint was applied to her broken leg and she was immobilised before being taken to City Hospital for further assessment and treatment from its trauma unit.”

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Monday 9^th February 2015 – 2pm – Chris Kowalik.

A man has been flown to one of the region’s major trauma centres after the car he was driving collided with a tractor in north Warwickshire.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Blythe Road, Coleshill at 11.20am today.

Two ambulance crews, a paramedic area support officer in a rapid response vehicle and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance attended.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “The man who is in his sixties, had leg and pelvic injuries and a suspected broken hip. He was given pain relief, his leg was splinted and he was immobilised on a scoop stretcher before being flown to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

“Two people in a second car involved in the collision were taken by land ambulance to Heartlands Hospital for precautionary checks.

“The tractor driver was uninjured.”

 

 

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Sunday 8^th February 2015 – 7.45pm – John Hawker.

Five people have been treated for injuries following a two car RTC in Bromsgrove this afternoon.

The crash occurred on Stourbridge Road, Catshill at around 3.45pm. Three ambulances, a rapid response vehicle and a paramedic officer attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Crews arrived to find two cars that had been in a collision. Both had suffered substantial front end damage.

“A man driving one car, believed to be in his 30’s, suffered a head injury in the crash. He received treatment at the scene and was transferred to Kidderminster Minor Injuries Unit for further treatment.

“The man and woman travelling in the front of the second car both received treatment at the scene and were transferred to The Alexandra Hospital in Redditch. The woman in her 30’s had suffered leg and spinal injuries and the man, also in his 30’s suffered shoulder and back pain.

“An eight year old girl and nine year old boy that were travelling in the rear of the car both suffered minor injuries and after being checked over by medics were discharged at the scene.”

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We have no further details on this incident.

Sunday 8^th February 2015 – 6.30pm – John Hawker.

Five people have been injured, including an eight year old boy, following a serious RTC on the M42 this afternoon.

The crash occurred near Junction 6, Hampton in Arden, Solihull at around 1.55pm. Four ambulances, a rapid response vehicle, a paramedic officer and the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Crews arrived to find three vehicles that had been in a serious collision. A team of army medics had stopped to assist the patients whilst the ambulance crews were on route.

“An eight year old boy who was travelling in one car suffered abdominal injuries and received emergency treatment at the scene. He was transferred by land ambulance to Birmingham Children’s Hospital for further treatment.

“Two women travelling in the same car both suffered minor injuries and received treatment at the scene. One woman, believed to be in her 20’s was transferred by ambulance to Queen Elizabeth Hospital with the second woman, believed to be in her 40’s, transferred to Heartlands Hospital.

“A man and a woman both believed to be in their 50’s, and travelling in the second vehicle, both suffered minor injuries and received treatment at the scene. Both were transferred in the same ambulance to Heartlands hospital.

“No one from the third vehicle was injured.

“Considering the substantial damage to the vehicles involved, the occupants were fortunate not to have suffered more serious or even fatal injuries.”

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We have no further details on this incident.

Sunday 8^th February 2015 – 4.50pm – John Hawker.

A mountain biker has been rescued from a valley after falling off his bike in Shropshire this afternoon.

The incident occurred at around 12.35pm on Minton Batch Trail, Minton. An ambulance, the Trusts Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “The man, believed to be 22 years old, was riding with two friends when he fell of his mountain bike and injured his ankle.

“The nearest point a normal land ambulance could get to the man was around one and a half miles away at the bottom of a very small valley track.

“For the safety of the patient and the emergency staff trying to rescue the man, an air ambulance attended the scene and thanks to the skill of the pilot, managed to land in a small clearing in the valley around 200metres away.

“The man received treatment at the scene for his ankle injury and with the assistance of the fire service, was carried on a stretcher back up to the air ambulance.

“The man was then airlifted to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

“All emergency service personal worked seamlessly together to ensure the patient was rescued as quickly and safely as possible.”

 

 

 

 

 

*Stock Photo*

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We have no further details on this incident.

Saturday 7^th February 2015 – 7.45am – Chris Kowalik.

A man has suffered serious injuries to an arm and both legs after the car he was in left the A38 in Burton.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called shortly after 3.50am today.

An advanced community paramedic in a rapid response vehicle, a paramedic area support officer in a rapid response vehicle, the MERIT trauma team and an ambulance crew attended.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “The man who is in his thirties had serious injuries to both legs to which tourniquets were applied. He also had a broken right arm which as wrapped in a vacuum splint.

“He was given pain relief and was immobilised before being taken on blue lights accompanied by the MERIT trauma team to Royal Stoke University Hospital.”

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http://herefordshireheartstart.org/news/press-release-students-fundraising-raises-cash-for-heartstart/

Herefordshire Heartstart is a charity supported by West Midlands Ambulance Service:

Friday 6^th February 2015 – 8.30am – Chris Kowalik.

A man has been taken to a major trauma centre after a road traffic collision in Birmingham in the early hours.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the A38 near the O2 Academy at 3.15am today.

A paramedic area support officer in a rapid response vehicle, the MERIT trauma team and an ambulance crew attended.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “The driver, a man in his thirties, was trapped and unconscious in the car. He had a serious head injury. He was quickly cut free by the fire service. He was anaesthetised at the scene, fully immobilised and was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.”

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Thursday 5^th February 2015 – 9pm – Chris Kowalik.

A man has been injured after the car he was driving collided with a lorry in Warwickshire.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the A423 between Princethorpe and Stretton on Dunsmore shortly after 3.40pm today.

An ambulance crew and a paramedic area support officer in a rapid response vehicle attended.

  Picture: West Midlands Ambulance Service

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “The car driver, a man in his fifties, had a compound fracture to his right arm and a fractured right hand and shoulder. He also had a minor head injury.

“He was cut free from his car with the help of the fire service. He was immobilised with the use of a scoop stretcher and neck collar and he was given pain relief before being taken on alert to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire.”

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It’s #TimeToTalk Day, where we are all encouraged to spend five minutes talking about mental health.

Around one in four adults will experience mental health problems at some point in their lives. Living with a mental health problem is hard enough, but sometimes the isolation and stigma can make it even worse.

So to tackle the issue which sometimes surrounds the illness, leading mental health charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness have created “Time to Talk Day”, which aims end the silence on mental health.

This could mean chatting about your problem over a cuppa, or asking someone about theirs on social media.

People’s attitudes have started to change and being able to talk about it as an everyday health issue without any fear of judgment or unfair treatment is key

Time to Change is designed to help those suffering from a wide range of mental illnesses, including anxiety, phobias, panic attacks, depression and schizophrenia.

There are some helpful tips on how to have a conversation on this video:

This infographic also has some excellent information and statistics:

Wednesday 4^th February 2015 – 4.30pm – Claire Brown.

A man has been airlifted to hospital after he was knocked unconscious after being kicked by a cow in Bridgnorth this afternoon.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to a property off the B4364, The Down, at 2.00pm (Wednesday). A local community first responder, an ambulance and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford with a MERIT trauma doctor on board attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When ambulance staff arrived they found a man, believed to be in his 60s, who had reportedly been kicked by a cow.

“He was being looked after by his wife and colleague who said he had initially been knocked unconscious following the incident. By the time the air ambulance arrived the man had thankfully regained consciousness.

“The MERIT doctor and ambulance staff assessed the man and suspected he had sustained a head injury. They carefully immobilised him with a neck collar and spinal board before he was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, a regional trauma centre, for further treatment.”

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Wednesday 4th February 2015 – 11.33am – Murray MacGregor.

A teenage girl who was left hanging by her seatbelt after her car overturned has been extracted through the rear window of her car.

The crash happened at about 8.10am in Halton Road in the New Oscott area of Sutton Coldfield.

A rapid response vehicle, an ambulance and a paramedic area support officer were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, crews found the 18 year old woman hanging upside down in her overturned car. A Ford Fiesta and a small van, which were parked, had also been damaged in the crash.

“The woman was complaining of hip and back pain. Due to her position, ambulance staff worked with firefighters to lower her, face down, onto a spinal board before she was lifted out through the rear of the Citroen C2.

“After being extracted she was assessed, turned onto her back and given pain relief at the scene. The teenager was then taken to Good Hope Hospital for further treatment.”

Note to Editors
Picture courtesy of @PerryBarrFire
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Wednesday 4th February 2015 – 10.42m – Murray MacGregor.

Seven patients have been assessed by ambulance staff after a six vehicle shunt on the M6 in Staffordshire this morning.

The crash happened at about 8.45am on Wednesday morning on the southbound carriageway, about a mile before junction 14 (Stafford North).

Two ambulances and a senior paramedic officer were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, ambulance staff found six cars that had been in collision in lane three of the motorway.

“Although a number had suffered significant front and rear end damage, none of those inside the vehicles was seriously hurt.

“A woman was taken by ambulance to Royal Stoke University Hospital with neck and back pain, but it not thought that it was serious.

“A man was taken to County Hospital in Stafford with chest and abdominal pain, but again this was for precautionary checks.

“A further five men were assessed at the scene and discharged without the need to go to hospital.”
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Wednesday 4^th February 2015 – 10.15am – Chris Kowalik.

Friday the thirteenth might not be an unlucky day for you if you’re looking for a career with West Midlands Ambulance Service.

Our careers advisers will be on hand along with more than thirty other employers at a jobs fair in Bromsgrove.

The trust has recently been on a major recruitment drive for 300 student paramedics.

Jennifer Zandbeek, West Midlands Ambulance Service Learning and Development Manager, said: “We offer a wide range of fantastic opportunities. It’s not just about paramedics. Other roles within this service include working in our 999 or 111 call centres, in our Patient Transport Service, or in one of our many support roles such as Human Resources, IT, Fleet or Finance.”

The event is being held at the Spadesbourne Suite, Bromsgrove Council House, Burcot Lane, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. B60 1AA.

To see the range of jobs on offer at West Midlands Ambulance Service, visit http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/xi/search_vacancy/8de6d6990a4d01f4cb4d7ee2948937f6/?action=search&master_id=122792

For more information about Bromsgrove Jobs Fair, visit:

http://www.sajidjavid.com/jobs-fair or

http://www.bromsgrovestandard.co.uk/2015/01/29/news-Bromsgrove-job-fair-to-bring-1,500-hosts-125854.html

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Tuesday 3^rd February 2015 – 5.00pm – John Hawker.

A wheelchair user has been injured following an RTC in Birmingham this afternoon.

The incident occurred outside Costa Coffee, High Street, Kings Heath at around 2.35pm. An ambulance and a rapid response vehicle attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “We were called to reports of a man who was crossing the road in a wheelchair who was involved in a collision with a lorry.

“The man was unfortunately tipped out of the wheelchair in the crash resulting in him suffering a minor head injury and a minor leg injury.

“The man, believed to be in his 40’s, received treatment at the scene and was transferred by ambulance to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further treatment.”

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Monday 2^nd February 2015 – 2.50pm – Claire Brown.

A woman, who was rescued from a flat fire covered in soot, is in a critical condition in hospital in Stoke-on-Trent.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Plex Street in Tunstall at 1.00pm this afternoon (Monday). An ambulance, a paramedic area support officer and a responder paramedic attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival, ambulance staff found the fire service tackling a fire in an upstairs flat of a two-storey property. A woman, in her 40s, was rescued from the blaze by fire fighters.

“The woman was unconscious, covered in soot and was having difficulty breathing. Ambulance staff worked quickly to manage her airway to help her breathe and stabilise her serious condition. The woman was alerted to Royal Stoke University Hospital by ambulance on blue lights. Emergency treatment continued en route to hospital where, upon arrival, she was said to be in a critical condition.

“Neighbouring residents in the adjoining flats were evacuated as a precaution by police and the fire service.”

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Monday 2^nd February 2015 – 12.30pm – Claire Brown.

Volunteer life-savers who work shoulder-to-shoulder with ambulance staff on Birmingham’s ‘Golden Mile’ each weekend have been recognised for their dedication at the City’s Best of Broad Street Awards (BOBS).

Now in its 10^th year, the BOBS recognise venues, individuals and teams that work in Broad Street.

The Trust’s City Centre Treatment Unit (CCTU), which operates each Friday and Saturday covering the city centre, is staffed by West Midlands Ambulance Service and supported by volunteers from St John Ambulance, British Red Cross, Community First Responders and special constables from West Midlands Police.

The BOBS awards, which was held at the International Convention Centre on Sunday 25^th January, recognised the work of these CCTU volunteers and scooped the ‘Best Volunteer’ award.

The CCTU provides on-site pre-hospital treatment to members of the public who are suffering from minor injuries or conditions or have had too much to drink. The unit not only helps to reduce the number of patients attending A&E but also frees up ambulances to respond to more life-threatening conditions.

Mike Duggan, West Midlands Ambulance Service paramedic in charge of operating the CCTU, said: “It’s brilliant to see volunteers being recognised for their hard work and dedication to support the CCTU.  They give up their spare time to support visitors to Birmingham who become ill or injured on a night out and their help eases the immense work load we, as an ambulance service, face.  This is the second award in less than a year for the CCTU volunteers, which is testament to the vital role they play in the delivery of the service. I’d like to thank them for the ongoing support.”

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Notes to Editor:

Pictured (left to right) West Midlands Police Special Constable Phil Oldacres together with British Red Cross volunteers Dom Pumphrey, Alex Hayward and Nathan Douglas.

Herefordshire Heartstart, a charity supported by West Midlands Ambulance Service, has trained its 21,000th person!

More details here:

http://herefordshireheartstart.org/news/press-release-heartstart-attendee-awarded-21000-certificate-of-attendance/