MARS seeks to raise money for lifesaving equipment from Tough Mudder challenge (From Ledbury Reporter)
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Herefordshire based MARS seeks to raise money for lifesaving equipment from Tough Mudder challenge
9:03pm Thursday 21st March 2013 in News
Dr Malcolm Russell, David Gordon, Ben Scott, Marcus Billig, and Neil Gordon will represent MARS in the Tough Mudder event that will raise money to buy an ultrasound machine
A HEREFORDSHIRE doctor will push himself to the limit to raise money for a vital piece of lifesaving equipment.
Dr Malcolm Russell, one of the doctors with Mercia Accident Rescue Service (MARS), will tackle a gruelling 12 mile cross-country assault course known as the Tough Mudder.
MARS provides emergency care across Herefordshire including for complex road traffic collisions and the organisation is now aiming to raise £12,000 to buy an ultrasound machine.
Dr Russell was challenged to join a team of MARS supporters to raise money for the ultrasound machine which will be used for examining patients with life-threatening traumatic injuries.
An example of its use would be to scan a person trapped in a crashed car to find hidden abdominal bleeding - something that could change how they are rescued.
“Many people will be familiar with ultrasound scanning in pregnancy," said Dr Russell.
"We’ll be using the same technology but in trauma and in very different circumstances such as at the roadside, where we need to make complex decisions in rescue situations.
"Ultrasound many give us vital extra clues to make best possible diagnosis and plan of action for our patients.”
There are five people in the MARS Tough Mudder team including Dr Russell.
The others are father-and-son Neil and David Gordon along with Ben Scott.They all work at Wye Leisure and are fire fighters.
They will be joined by Marcus Billig, manufacturing manager for the Herefordshire Cider Company.
The event includes water crossings, fire hazards and electrified wire obstacles, and takes place on September 21 at a location in the South West yet to be finalised.
Visit www.justgiving.com/toughmudder-mars to donate money.
