Leicester patient recalls crucial air ambulance flight this Road Safety Week

Road Safety Week (19 -25 November) plays a crucial role in educating communities and advocating for safer road practices.

Road traffic collisions have been one of the most common type of incidents the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA) has attended over the years, with the lifesaving service’s critical care crew being tasked to over 450 road traffic collisions this year alone.

Within minutes, DLRAA’s critical care crews can be on the ground delivering pre-hospital emergency care at road traffic collisions, giving patients the very best chance of survival and live their lives to the fullest, patients like Georgina.

Georgina Riggall appreciates how different her life could be had she not been airlifted to a specialist trauma hospital by Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance when she was badly injured in a car accident on 04 September 2018.

That’s why Georgina (30) is urging local people to support the charity, which receives no government funding and relies totally on public donations to remain operational.

“I am very grateful to the local air ambulance for the speed they flew me to the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham where I was treated by specialist surgeons. Things could have been very different if that didn’t happen,” says Georgina.

Georgina was working as a carer at the time, visiting clients in their homes in Northamptonshire when she was involved in a collision whilst driving.

“I don’t remember anything before waking up behind the wheel of the car. I got myself out and lay down on the grass verge. The land ambulance arrived, and I was assessed by two paramedics but due to the seriousness of my injuries it was decided to fly me to hospital,” she says.

Georgina, who now works for the NHS, sustained a perforated bowel, broken sternum, and deep cut on her hip. She underwent an emergency operation to repair her bowel and was an in-patient at QMC for eight days – it was several weeks before she could walk properly and return to work.

Since her incident, Georgina (30) has not only gone on to make a full recovery but has thrown herself into life.

“I’m great I’ve been embracing life. Spending time with people who matter, travelling and going to events, which I would never have had the courage to do before.

“I started working for the NHS the week after lockdown in March 2020 as I wanted to help people in any way that I could, the people I’ve met working there are amazing,” says Georgina.

Georgina was recently promoted to Chemotherapy Team Leader in the NHS, and outside of work enjoys visiting new places, reading, watching films, and spending time with her friends and family.

“I will always be enterally grateful to DLRAA and the crew that helped save my life. I will do anything I can to spread the word and help raise money for these lifesaving missions,” she adds.