DOCTORS and Paramedics from Wiltshire Air Ambulance (WAA) gave 35 patients pre-hospital blood transfusions during the first year of blood being kept onboard the helicopter and rapid response vehicles.

28 of those patients survived after the transfusion.

Previously WAA estimated that one to two patients a month would benefit from receiving pre-hospital blood transfusions.

Between August 2015 and August 2016 WAA's crews gave on average a transfusion to three patients per month in Wiltshire and surrounding counties.

One of the patients who was given blood was 40-year-old Mark Bryant, who was seriously injured in a road traffic collision.

The collision occurred two and a half weeks after carrying blood became standard procedure.

He said: "I'm really humbled by what Wiltshire Air Ambulance did for me, the pre-hospital blood transfusions that I received saved my life.

"Blood is crucially important to help seriously injured people and I am so grateful that I was able to benefit from blood being carried by Wiltshire Air Ambulance."

Mr Bryan was not aware of the air ambulance before his accident, but praised those involved with the organisation.

He said: "It is an amazing team that comes together to keep people safe across Wiltshire and beyond and it is a charity funded by public donations."

For more information on the air ambulance visit:

http://www.wiltshireairambulance.co.uk/