Life saving First Responders needed

Would you like to be part of a team who helps local people when they suffer a life threatening medical problem? The local Five Villages First Responder team based in Misterton are now looking for additional volunteers who live or work in Clayworth, Everton, Mattersey or surrounding villages to extend the service provided. The group are looking for new recruits to join the team as Community First Responders (CFR) to introduce a new team specifically for these villages.

CFRs work in partnership with East Midlands Ambulance Service and attend life threatening emergency calls such as collapses, cardiac arrests, chest pains, breathing problems and other similar call outs.

They receive full training in the use of oxygen therapy, resuscitation and heart defibrillation. The role is voluntary and each CFR can be "on call" from home or work within the local area. Because they are nearby they are despatched when required by the Ambulance Emergency Operations Centre following a 999 call, with the CFR being able to attend the scene of the emergency and begin care of the patient until the arrival of the emergency ambulance.

The team works on rota basis and responders can volunteer as little or as much time to being on call each week or month, as they wish. While a responder is on call they can continue with their normal day to day activities at home or at work, but must be ready to drop everything and attend a call should one arise while they are on duty.

The team currently has volunteer First Responders in Misterton, Walkeringham, Beckingham, West Stockwith and Gringley on the Hill, but are now looking for people who live or work within Clayworth, Everton, Mattersey or surrounding villages, and can give some time to train as a CFR and be on call. To find out more information please contact the CFR team.

Two Mattersey residents have already come forward and are due to commence their training shortly and will be available to be on call from the middle of March, but more people are needed.

Community First Responders come from all different walks of life and volunteer for many different reasons. Potential CFR's need to have a caring attitude, be aged over 18 years, with a full clean driving licence and access to a car and live within one of the villages mentioned. Full enhanced criminal records bureau checks are carried out on all CFR's prior to commencing training. Initial and on-going training and assessment is provided by East Midlands Ambulance Service.

In return First Responder volunteers get a great deal of satisfaction from the work they do. Being a CFR can be very rewarding and you can find yourself actually helping your friends, family, neighbours and other members of the local community in their hour of need. The current team have attended over 1,600 emergency calls in the local area since they were first set up in 2004.

For more information about becoming a CFR please click here or to contact the team click here.