Anyone who lives or works in the East of England can get involved with First Responder schemes, whether it’s to be a responder, or to help with other vital tasks such as fund-raising, support or administration.
Volunteers do not need previous first aid experience to join their local group, as full training will be provided.
To become a volunteer Responder you must be at least 18 years of age with a full UK driving license.
You will be expected to undertake an enhanced criminal records bureau disclosure (CRB), signed to agree to the East of England Ambulance Service policies and procedures of Community Response and been declared fit for the role by the Trust’s Occupational Health department.
Once the paperwork section of the application is completed you can then book yourself onto a training weekend to complete your First Responder training.
A Community First Responder Scheme is made up of groups of volunteers who, within the community in which they live or work, have been trained to attend emergency 999 calls received by the Ambulance Service, providing potentially lifesaving treatment and first aid until an emergency ambulance arrives.
Responders are members of the community who are trained to use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), O2 and other lifesaving equipment to assist ambulance crews, and maintain patient stability until the arrival of the Paramedics.
Community First Responders are well regarded by the professional ambulance service in general as they understand that saving a life can be achieved in the minutes before they get to a call. While many ambulances can get to a Category A call within eight minutes, if you consider that for every minute after a cardiac arrest before defibrillation the chance of survival drops by 10%. If a Responder can provide defibrillation in four minutes then that patient has a greater chance of survival.
In general, Community Responders are sent to immediate life threatening situations such as cardiac arrest. They are never sent to scenes of domestic violence and would not attend RTC's or attend to children under seven years of age.
Community Responders are a vital part of the chain of survival providing critical care until a highly trained crew can arrive.
"Requirements - at least 18 years old, full UK driving license, have access to your own car.
Length of training - one weekend 9am-4pm ish both days followed by an assessment the weekend after. Then once you've qualified there's a training night in Gt. Yarmouth once a month for 3 hours ish."
For more information and to apply Click Here
Click here for Great Yarmouth First Responders's Profile on 96ktalkback
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John Lucas