Going to look at the air ambulance

[Crunchymum]

We live in central London but near quite a big open space and have the air ambulance land very close by every few months.

Every time it's happened DP has suggested taking the kids to 'see it' and I've always refused on the basis it's rubber-necking of the highest order. DP always says he would be going to see the helicopter not the passengers and if course it's 'there' anyway whether I like it or not.

Am I being a bit precious or is DP being inappropriate?

My boys were invited onto one that had landed in our shared gardens in central london. The damn thing landed about twenty paces from our back door so very hard to ignore. The personnel that stayed with the copter were more than happy to let the kids have a look. The medical personnel were away seeing to the casualty in a spot not at all visible from where we were. So I think YANBU based on this experience -- as long as you are sure that the pilot is just waiting around and the casualty is not in the immediate vicinity.

I hate rubbernecking. Just today on the bus some one asked how near the bus gets to Greenfall Tower as they wanted to look at it.

I described things to my colleague (the fact they had suitcases) and she thought they may have clothes they wish to donate so I don't know, but I felt rather cross about it.

That's interesting, Gandering. My boys were beckoned from a distance by a very friendly pilot. The medical crew spent ages getting the casualty ready to move, though apparently the accident was not terribly serious (pilot kept playing it down -- person had fallen from scaffolding and no spine injury was suspected).

Totally innapropriate It is like when I watching Greenfell tower on tv and there was amother with her child watching and I was absolutely disgstusted that they were just standing there wathing, it would traumatise a child for years watching shit like that.

Ugh. Are people really such scum? Hope he never knows how it feels to need the air ambulance for one of his own children.

Interesting one ..... having worked in the industry, crew do tend to be very willing to explain the aircraft and job to anyone interested but only when pre-arranged or if it's not to the detriment of the tasking at hand. So I'm sure the pilot may well be happy to explain & show the kids around.

I'm just not sure I'd make a point of proactively going to the scene of an accident as some kind of trip itself Obviously if you happen to be in the "right" place at the right time, fair enough I suppose.

If your DC are interested in all things blue light then this is a great day out www.rescueday999.com/gallery and it's only a fortnight away. Usually children can sit in the police helicopter, an ambulance and a fire engine. The highlight for DS (then age 11) was being 'rescued' from the water by one of the rescue dogs (small donation & they provided wet suit).

One landed just down the road from us and the crew ran past our house to treat the patient a few houses away. I took DS and DD, then both aged about 8 and 10 to see the helicopter from the gate into the field. The pilot came over and asked us if we'd like to have a look round the helicopter while the paramedics were busy and were likely to be some time. I told the pilot the last thing we'd wanted to do was intrude but he said they were always happy to show people as the funding came from the public, and the more people who knew, potentially the more funds raised.
We would never have gone near the air ambulance if they had been anywhere near the incident.

Once the medical team have left the scene with the patient, the pilot and co-pilot will often have a period of waiting when they're usually more than happy to let kids (even grown-up kids!) have close-up look.

Air Ambulances in England only operate because of public funding and allowing curious folk a little look is a small gesture of thanks to the public. If it helps educate / inspire kids then all the better.

So I'd encourage him to go and you get 30 mins peace and quiet too... :-)

I'm not saying my first thought on seeing an air ambulance land would be 'let's take the DCs to see it'. It wouldn't be. But I also wouldn't think it was rubber-necking or hindering because they usually land a distance away from any incident.

That was a bit harsh unavita

I have explained that the helicopter lands in x place and paramedics deal with incidents at the actual scene (which is local but not right by the aircraft). Although granted there will often be a very poorly passenger loaded onto helicopter.

As other people have posted it's quite common for the helicopter personnel to engage with public whilst they await the passengers.

My stance still remains, it's not a spectator sport but in no way was DP suggesting it was. He actually seemed to know that the public are OK to look over helicopter whilst pilots await their passengers (I've shown him this thread!!)

It was harsh. I have such terrible memories of that time, an audience would not have been welcome. But I apologise.

LAA pilots are more than happy to show people around and will encourage children to do so.

As others have said, they usually have to land away from the incident and it may lead to more people giving money to them.

I don't think it's the same as rubbernecking an accident. If you were hindering their work, I'm sure they would let you know pretty quickly.

YANBU, but I think it would be worth looking for a more appropriate opportunity to have a look (lots of options suggested by pps).

I used to ride at a London city farm that was on a park frequently used by the air ambulance. It never happened to me, but I know a friend ended up trying to wrangle two ponies, each with a child on board, while a helicopter landed a hundred yards away (successfully, I should add!). It was just the only space they could use. Part and parcel of city life.

No need to apologise. I get that it is emotive and yes thankfully we've never had to use an air ambulance.

I am not sure I explained well in enough in my opening post that we live near a 'common' landing site. Large public open space with a suitable fenced off area in an inner London Borough. So often landings are for incidents locally, as of course the air ambulance isn't able to land right beside incidents in most cases.

We live semi-rurally and near an open expanse of grass where the air ambulance occasionally lands (to meet patients brought by land ambulance for a transfer usually ).

It's a strange dilemma as it's difficult not to watch it land and take off when it's in full view from your house (the skill involved is amazing and helicopters still fascinate me how they move, manoeuvre and stay up in the air!)) but equally you realise that their presence means that someone nearby is in a very bad way. For that reason we would never dream of walking down to see it close-up.

A few years ago I was at a hospital with DS and to get back to the car park we had to walk past the helipad. An air ambulance and pilot were there waiting and the pilot called us over to have a look. He was clearly used to showing people and answering questions. It was a great bit of PR but the time was appropriate as the patient had been transferred into the hospital and he was waiting for the crew to come back.

If he just wants to see the helicopter tell him to take the tube to Whitechapel and look at it on the roof of the Royal London Hospital. He might even see it take off and land if he stays there long enough.

YANBU OP. I was helping at the scene of a serious road accident a couple of years ago and there were a few ambulances and police in attendance, and then after a while the air ambulance arrived. I was holding someone's head still in case she had spinal injuries and I remember being aware of cars slowing down to have a look at the scene and passengers filming/taking photos. What I thought was even more disgusting was that people on the nearby overpass had parked up their cars and got out, taking their kids with them to enjoy the "spectacle". They kept watching as a seriously injured man was pulled out of his car, put on a trolley and wheeled to the helicopter. It was totally inappropriate that they were all staring down at us from the bridge as if it was some kind of spectator sport. Seriously injured people do not want to be stared at and neither do the people trying to keep them alive.

I don't care if parents think it'll be interesting and exciting for their kids to see an air ambulance in action - it's NOT APPROPRIATE.

it's NOT APPROPRIATE

you are still completely missing the point and ignoring the difference between being in the middle of an accident and looking at a helicopter ^which is nowhere near the casualties!"

You are entitled to your opinion, you are not likely to change mine!