IF YOU are in a critical condition and the traffic is gridlocked it may well be the air ambulance that will save your life.

But many people do not know that The Great Western Air Ambulance is actually a charity and needs to raise its own funds.

The SNJ regularly gets pictures sent in from its readers of the GWAAC helicopter flying overhead or in a field while the critical care team deal with a patient nearby.

So what's it like being a medic on the air ambulance?

Critical care paramedic James Yates, 34, described what happens on an average call out. “I get a phone call and I have to decide whether we will take the case or not," he said.

“If we take it I’ll get a grid and map reference so that we know where to go and I then work out the basics of the navigation.”

Meanwhile, pilot Jim Green, 29, is getting the helicopter started up. Jim explained: “By the time James has finished his plotting we’ll have the aircraft ready to go and we normally aim for about four or five minutes from the call coming in to lifting.”

Many of GWAAC's call outs are for trauma cases, car crashes or falls from buildings. People can have anything from one to multiple fractures.

The team also regularly deals with cardiac arrests.