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SLSAR ASKAM COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS |
Community First Responders are teams of volunteers who live and work in local communities. They are trained and activated by North West Ambulance NHS Service NHS Trust to attend certain calls where time can make the difference between life and death. Such calls would include Chest Pain, Breathing Difficulties, Cardiac Arrest, Unconsciousness, Fitting, Arrest of Haemorrhage and Diabetic Emergencies. The responder provides care and support to the patient and relatives until the arrival of the emergency ambulance.
Very often, the role of a responder is one of reassurance. In instances where someone has chest pains, simply giving oxygen can make a big difference. In extreme cases, they can perform CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) or use a defibrillator to restart the heart. Chances of survival decreases by 10% with each minute a person’s heart has stopped beating. So the CFR’s availability in the local area means they can respond quickly and start treatment as early as possible.
Each volunteer makes themselves available on call to suit their personal circumstances. They carry basic life saving equipment, and a simple to use Automated External Defibrillator (AED).
The Ambulance Service control centre sends Responders to immediately life threatening medical calls within their local area. They are dispatched at the same time as the ambulance crews but because they are often in more rural locations, may arrive more quickly than the ambulance.
The scheme can be incredibly rewarding not least because responders could save someone’s life. Many villages where schemes exist show great community spirit knowing there is someone around the corner who could be a lifesaver. Anyone who lives or works within the North West can get involved, whether it as a Community First Responder, or helping in other tasks needed to run a team such as support or administration. Volunteers do not need previous First Aid experience to join their local team as full training is given.
Volunteers can be male or female, aged over eighteen years. They must have access to a car and be able to attend emergency calls from either their home or place of work as soon as they are received.
While a responder is on call they can continue with their normal day to day activities while in the local area, but must be ready to drop everything and attend a call should one arise.
A Community First Responder needs to be extremely reliable and trust worthy, good under pressure, able to remain calm in emergency situations, be caring when dealing with patients and have a good level of physical fitness.
Prospective responders have to undergo a Criminal Records Bureau Check (CRB) which is carried out by the Northwest Ambulance Service
Why do we need First Responders?
Because First Responders are based within the community in which they live or work, they can attend the scene of an emergency in a very short time, often arriving within the first three or four minutes.
The Community First Responders can then begin vital life saving first aid before the Ambulance arrives, further increasing the patient's chance of survival.
In an ideal world, there would be an Ambulance available on every street corner in each town or in every village. This is not the case, and is why First Responders can make such a difference in their communities, especially in rural areas.
Training, Skills
All members of the SLSAR Community First Responder team undergo intensive training and assessment with Paramedic Training Officers from Northwest Ambulance Service , to enable them to delivery the following level of skills and care using the equipment below:
Skills and equipment which First Responders are qualified in:-
Use of Automated. External. Defibrillator (AED)
Oxygen Therapy
C.P.R. (Cardio. Pulmonary. Resuscitation.)
First Aid, Patient Care & Assessment
Recognition of cause and type of illness/injury
For more information on Askam Responders visit : www.askamresponse.slsar.org.uk