Newport First Responders
What is a Community First Response Scheme?
A Community First Response Scheme is made up from volunteers who live, or work, within a community or village, and have been trained to attend certain emergency 999 calls by The Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust, to provide emergency first aid, until an ambulance arrives.
Why Do We Need Them?
Thirty years ago, it was discovered that if a series of events took place, in a set sequence, a patient suffering from a heart attack stood a greater chance of survival. These events are now known as the 'Chain of Survival'.
- Early Access
- Early Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Early Defibrillation
- Early Advanced Life Support
When the first three links of the 'Chain of Survival' are put into practise, by the general public, or Community First Response teams, it has been shown that survival rates can be improved to between 25-40%.
The Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust believes that by introducing a scheme where Community First Responders are trained in providing Basic Life Support (BLS) and early defibrillation, there would be a significant improvement in the chances of surviving an out of hospital cardiac arrest.
Who Can Become A Community First Responder?
A Community First Responder should be 18 years of age or over, physically fit enough to be able to achieve a satisfactory standard of proficiency after training.
They should have a sympathetic and caring approach to people. They should be reliable and trust worthy with a mature outlook on life.
Ideally a Community First Responder should be able to drive and hold a clean driving licence.
A key factor is that a first responder must be able to work together with others as part of a community team.
First Responder Schemes are an additional valuable resource which enable people to learn the skills necessary to begin life-saving treatment before an ambulance arrives, but do not in any way replace existing emergency ambulance services.
There are currently more than 70 First Responder Schemes in Wales, with new schemes going on-line regularly.
For more information on First Responder schemes in Central and West Wales please contact First Responder Officer, Andrew Vaughan on 01792 562922.
Volunteers needed!
The setting up of the scheme was a magnificent community achievement, but now that it is up and running, more people are needed to train as First Responders, act as committee members and come up with good fundraising ideas to meet the continuing costs of the scheme.
Newport First Responders was initially sponsored by The British Heart Foundation Cymru and was a key factor in starting the group. Our local BHF branch is Fishguard Preseli to whom this community is very grateful.
Fishguard Preseli BHF Branch tell:- 1239 820564
Britiish Heart Foundation Website