THE Reading Chronicle is proud to have launched a campaign in support of our air ambulance heroes.

The Thames Valley Air Ambulance (TVAA) is one of the most vital services for those who are critically injured or ill in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

Within minutes, highly trained paramedics, doctors and pilots can be on scene where needed and are ready for any eventuality - regularly saving lives.

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Behind the scenes, people are working tirelessly to make sure the charity runs smoothly.

One of these people is Suzanne Brennan who is an Operations Support Assistant.

Suzanne has been working for TVAA for nearly two years and plays a vital role in the charity’s work.

She explained the Operations Support Department supports the critical care crew and keep everything running smoothly at the operating base at RAF Benson.

This varies from ordering medicines and equipment to collecting fresh blood and plasma supplies to be used on the helicopter and critical response vehicles.

Suzanne explained blood and fresh plasma is kept on board all the TVAA vehicles for emergency transfusions revealing the most important task of the day is to ensure these stocks are replenished.

She explained: “The first thing we do is collect the blood that the crew didn’t use the previous day.

“It’s loaded into the Blood Delivery Van and taken from RAF Benson to the John Radcliffe Hospital to swap for fresh blood and plasma.

“When we arrive at the John Radcliffe, we head up to Level 4 – the Haematology lab – where they have pre-prepared three boxes of blood.

“We sign-in the blood we are returning and check the blood we’re taking has the correct details – such as temperature - and dates before signing them out.”

She continued: “In each box, there are two packs of O Negative blood, and two packs of fresh frozen plasma.

“O Negative is the ‘universal’ blood type that can be given to any patient when their blood type is unknown.

“The blood is given to patients who are bleeding heavily, and the plasma carries clotting factors, so is given to prevent blood loss.

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“The fresh blood and plasma are then taken back to Benson, for our crews to use on the Critical Care Response cars and helicopter.”

If you would like to donate to the TVAA then go online to tvairambulance.org.uk/support-us/donate.

“We rely solely on donations; they keep us going”, said Suzanne.

“It is only thanks to generous supporters like you that we are able to do what we do.”