NEW local recruits are being sought for a life-saving service that provides urgent medical care to people in towns, villages and rural areas across Shropshire.
West Midlands Ambulance Service needs new community first responders to provide medical attention to those most in need, while ambulances are on their way. The service is looking for more volunteers for “24/7 cover” at Bridgnorth, Shifnal, Albrighton and Cleobury Mortimer.
Chris Kowalik, communications officer for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said the organisation presently had slaughtermen, solicitors, managing directors and retained firefighter working in the role.
He said: “CFRs come from all walks of life. They go about their daily lives, but if an emergency call is received by the ambulance service within a two or three mile radius of them, they are sent. There are 138 active CFRs and 57 active schemes in Shropshire. “
Mr Kowalik added: “Community First Responder Schemes are teams of volunteers who are trained by the Ambulance Service to a nationally recognised level and provide life saving treatment to people in their local communities. Community First Responders are always backed up with the nearest available emergency ambulance.”
Volunteers should be aged 18 to 70, have a current driving licence, be physically fit, be able to attend incidents while at home or work and have a caring nature and be willing to help raise the profile of the schemes in local areas.
In order to be a volunteer, recruits must attend a training course. The I.H.C.D. €First Person On Scene€ award is held over four weekends and the course covers a number of aspects of emergency care.
Local Community Paramedics provide monthly training in a variety of subjects and all Community First Responders are required to requalify, taking a defibrillator assessment every 90 days.
Types of calls attended include cardiac arrest, heart attack, strokes, choking, diabetic emergencies and traumatic emergencies. Further details are available from Cliff Medlicott, Community Response Manager for Shropshire on 07884 050877, or via the CFR admin office on 01743 273677 or cfradmin@wmas.nhs.uk