IN THE COMMUNITY Up, up and away!


The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is one of the biggest events in our city’s social calendar, and last year we were proud to be chosen as the charity partner. If you missed us here is how the four days turned out:


Promoting what we do is key to raising the funds we need to keep flying, and our Critical Care Paramedics, Critical Care Doctors and Pilots showed hundreds of people around our helicopter. They were happy to answer questions that people had, and pose for photos with them. We even met the pilots and medics of the future – as lots of children wanted to join us when they finish school!


The BIBF takes place over four days at Ashton Court and is Europe’s largest ballooning show. It attracts thousands of people all keen to see the 140 balloons take off. Our helicopter played an integral part of the event, landing in the main arena every day.


Charlie the Critical Care Bear was a very familiar face, and got up to all sorts of things, including being driven round in a golf buggy and trying to hijack a balloon! He must have posed for hundreds of photos during the four days, and was happy to meet everyone.


Air ambulances and balloons have a lot in common: years


before the invention of the plane hot air balloons were used to evacuate injured soldiers during the


Franco-Prussian war in 1870.


We are lucky enough to be the charity for this year’s event too, and need lots of volunteers. If this article has 4 DONATE ONLINE AT WWW.GWAAC.COM AND SUPPORT US ON @GWAAC Helimed NEWS


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