Last updated at 11:13, Thursday, 13 November 2008

Interested in becoming a volunteer?

Whitehaven and District Community First Responders Association is a newly formed group supported by the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust that aims to recruit suitable persons from within the community who are able to train as Community First Responders (CFR’s).

CFR’s are volunteers that are trained in the use of heart defibrillators, oxygen therapy and enhanced First Aid and are on call to attend certain types of Category A life threatening emergencies. These can include: Allergic Reactions: Breathing Problems: Cardiac/Respiratory Arrest: Chest Pain: Choking: Convulsions/Fitting/Fainting: Diabetic Emergencies: Haemorrhage/Lacerations: Stroke: Collapse/Unconsciousness and Drowning.

Early intervention, support and treatment of the patient will increase the chances of survival for cardiac arrest victims by use of early Basic Life Support and automatic defibrillation.

It is expected that ‘First Responders’ will be with a casualty within 8 minutes of a call being received by Ambulance Control and will usually reach the scene of the medical emergency before the paramedic or ambulances arrive, although in every case an ambulance crew/rapid response paramedic will always be alerted prior to any available CFR’s being called upon to attend.

The project has already recruited an Executive Committee, including representatives from the South Whitehaven areas, drawn up a constitution and recruited trainee CFR’s with the support of Ambulance Service personnel and with the help of individuals involved in the very successful Whitehaven town centre radio-linked ‘First Responder’ initiative.

All CFR’s must be over the age of 18 years, be physically able to undertake training for, and the delivery of Basic Life Support, and able to deal with potentially emotionally difficult situations.

Each applicant will also be required to complete an application form and a Criminal Records Board (CRB) declaration form and attend an informal interview.

For further information please contact: Rod Eglin (Team Leader) on 01946 61183 or rod@eglin.ws, or Alan Forster-Faircloth (CFR) on 01946 591216.

First published at 11:03, Thursday, 13 November 2008
Published by http://www.southwhitehavenlocal.co.uk