Community First
Responders
wanted
South Central Ambulance Service are
looking into boosting the Community
First Responder (CFR) scheme in
surrounding villages where ambulance
time to patient may be slightly longer
due to rural location.
CFRs are volunteers who undertake a free
4 day training course learning the basics
of first aid with particular attention being
given to dealing with life threatening
conditions such as heart attacks, strokes,
breathing problems, bleeding and of
course cardiac arrest. It is a proven fact
that early CPR with defibrillation in a
cardiac arrest situation massively improves
the chances of a positive outcome and
with every minute that passes that positive
prognosis is reduced by 14%. This is a very
frightening statistic and shows how vital
the role of a CFR is especially when the
ambulance response target for such calls is
8 minutes.
Currently there are 130-150 CFRs dotted
around both rural and urban areas who
may cover an area of up to five miles from
their home address. They work on a pager
system linked to the main ambulance
control room, book on when they are
available anytime 24/7 and carry their own
equipment including a defibrillator and
oxygen. Carterton currently only has two
active CFRs.
If you would like any further information
or would be interested in volunteering,
then please contact:
Bonnie Brookes
South Central Ambulance Service
State Registered Paramedic
07799 661502
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