Air ambulance prepares for busy Christmas
The charity is on course for a record-breaking year
This year is on course to be one of the busiest on record for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.
So far, they've responded to more than 16-hundred calls outs - compared to over 15-hundred for the whole of 2021.
The focus is now on the festive period.
Last year, crews were called out 10 times over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
One of those who will be working on Christmas Day is HEMS Paramedic Sophia Rozario, who has been flying with the charity since 2019.
Sophia said: “We’re usually very busy around Christmas time. Sporting accidents are far fewer in number but, unfortunately, we do attend serious road traffic collisions, medical and self-harm incidents. It’s made me realise that Christmas can be a really tough time of year for some.”
Working over the Christmas period isn’t unusual for Sophia. And neither is having to fit her personal life around her or her family’s demanding work schedule.
“My mum is a nurse, so when I was a kid it was normal to have a belated Christmas Day,” said Sophia. “And my fiancé is also a paramedic, so as long as we get a couple of days over the festive period together, I don’t mind which day we celebrate.”