St John Ambulance provides emergency support in the snow

Volunteers from St John Ambulance in Hampshire sprang into action over night (5 January 2010) to support local communities in the heavy snow.

They worked well into the night providing five multi-terrain 4x4 vehicles and crews to support South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust, and a further vehicle to support South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust.

Members of the charity also helped staff run rest centres across Hampshire in Petersfield, Horndean, Bordon, Waterlooville and Whiteley looking after well over 150 evacuees and stranded motorists.

Dedication

Ambulance crews struggled to get through some roads as many cars had been abandoned across the roads as drivers struggle to reach their destinations.

Dan Bevis, County Ambulance Officer for St John Ambulance in Hampshire, said: ‘Our volunteers are working to support colleagues in both ambulance services which cover Hampshire, as well as at various rest centres across the county.

‘Yet again, our volunteers have shown their dedication to supporting the local communities in which they operate, and care for patients where needed and have braved the cold and wintery conditions to go above and beyond the call of duty.’

‘Support is anticipated to continue well towards the weekend, with adverse weather conditions predicted into Wednesday and Thursday. Our advice to those thinking about travelling is to consider whether your journey is really necessary, and if so ensure you have plenty of food and drinks, warm clothes and blankets, as well as a mobile phone and charger, money and medications. Where possible, stick to main roads which have a higher chance of being gritted than cross-country routes.’

St John Ambulance in Hampshire mobilised just two weeks ago in the run up to Christmas in December 2009 when snow and adverse weather affected many parts of Hampshire, and also provided emergency ambulance support to the local ambulance services over the New Year period.