It starts with you! – altaposten.no

We are lucky to live in a country that offers equal health services to everyone.

When a traffic accident occurs, the blue light states come to the rescue as quickly as they can.

When someone is taken by a snow avalanche, voluntarily and professional rescue services move out to search for and save the landslides.

When a heart suddenly stops, ambulance and air ambulance can provide advanced life -saving treatment and transport the patient to hospital.

But even the best and most advanced help has no value if no one calls the emergency number 113 when life and health are at risk. It has no value if no one checks if the unconscious traffic injured breathes.

It has no value if no one starts with heart and lung rescue on the cardiac arrest. It has no value if no one starts looking for and digging out the landslides.

When life and health are threatened, one person is more important than everyone else, namely you. You who are the first to an accident, you who are closest when someone gets seriously ill.

A recent Norstat survey shows that 58 per cent do not see themselves as part of emergency preparedness in Norway. We want this view in the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation to change.

We want you to know that you are an absolutely indispensable part of Norway’s emergency medical preparedness. The help provided during the first ten minutes can be far more important than the hospital help over the next ten days.

If the accident happens, or someone becomes acutely ill, remember that it starts with you. Notify 113 immediately and start basic life -saving first aid. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. The phenomenal people who are at work around the clock in the 113 centers will guide you until the help is in place. You are more important than you think.

Remember to take care of each other. I wish you and yours a safe and nice Easter!

Bjørgun Haugland

Regional Council leader

The Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation