We are sad to pass on the news of the death of our President, Dr David Rawlins on 17 September 2025 at the age of 90.
David was a founder member and absolutely instrumental to the establishment of SAVES in Somerset . He attended our first call 2nd August 1972 (his 37th birthday) treating a motorist trapped in his car after an accident on the A361. He served as our chairman for many years and went on to serve as our President for the last 3 years of his life.
David was also instrumental in the founding of BASICS and was elected as its first secretary to the founding committee in 1977
SAVES has acquired two new Zoll-X Monitors, supported by the contribution of a £20,000 grant
This was made possible after the scheme successfully bid for the donation of a grant from a sum of £250,000, which is given to the British Association for Immediate Care every year by the County Air Ambulance HELP Appeal.
Chairman, Dr James Hickman MBE said: ‘This donation is a real lifeline for us. These monitors are a vital move in providing our responders with crucial monitors that also enable defibrillation in cardiac arrest or can support a heart to beat that is unable do so on its own. We are looking for support to purchase more monitors in future, so that all our responders have this life-saving equipment available to them.
Robert Bertram, Chief Executive of the County Air Ambulance HELP Appeal added: “These volunteers are the unsung heroes of emergency care – giving up their free time to support their local ambulance service. This donation will ensure they have the highest standard of monitoring and lifesaving equipment at their disposal to ensure they can treat patients quickly and safely, giving them the best possible chance of survival and recovery.”
2022 marks the 50th Anniversary of SAVES responding in Somerset to sick and injured people in Somerset. Dr David Rawlins attended the first call on 2nd August 1972 treating a motorist trapped in his car after an accident on the A361.
As part of events to mark this "Golden" Anniversary coinciding with Her Majesty's Platinum Jubilee we were delighted to have a visit from The High Sheriff of Somerset Mr Jennifer Duke. The High Sheriff joined us on one of our training evenings to witness some realistic trauma scenarios to challenge the Volunteer SAVES doctors, Ambulance Staff and colleagues from Exmoor Search and Rescue and Community First Responders. She also distrusted Platinum Jubilee Medals that have been issued to four of our longstanding responders.
SAVES members give a great deal of their time and energy free of charge. In return SAVES provides a comprehensive set of emergency medical equipment and training.
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SAVES is one of a network of immediate care schemes across the UK which operate under the umbrella of the national organisation BASICS ("The British Association for Immediate Care").
The Scheme meets BASICS criteria for quality and has been accredited by BASICS.