1:48pm Friday 8th August 2008
By Jenny Makin
SIGNS may be put up around the landing site of Hampshire's air ambulance warning children of the dangers they face if they refuse to move out of its way.
As reported in yesterday's Daily Echo, youngsters are accused of putting lives at risk by refusing to get out of the way of the air ambulance when it tries to land at a Southampton recreation ground.
The Lordshill ground is the closest site that can accommodate the helicopter that brings critically ill patients to Southampton General Hospital.
Pilots and paramedics have faced a barrage of abuse when they have asked the children to get out of the way, and have had taunts of "Are you going to make us?"
Air ambulance staff are now warning that lives could be lost as some landings have been delayed by up to half an hour while people on the ground, including paramedics in waiting ambulances, battle to clear the area.
City councillor Jeremy Moulton said: "Putting signs up and talking to parents are good ideas that we can look into, I amsure the council has a role to play in this. It is an issue of safety not only for the patients on the air ambulance but also those on the ground."
Labour ward councillor for the area, Don Thomas, said there needed to be more awareness in the local community and suggested letters be sent out to the community.
He said: "Of course I'm concerned and we don't want a tragedy to happen before something is done.
"I certainly won't condemn kids for playing in an area that was made for them. That said, there has to be some responsibility as and when the air ambulance needs to land.
"I'm desperate for young people to have somewhere to go and also desperate for the air ambulance to have somewhere to land that's close to the hospital.
"Young kids need to be educated and that can happen through schools and parents and maybe a letter to local residents telling them that from time to time the air ambulance will need to land there and they have to give way."
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