Brightlingsea First
Responders are volunteers from the community who are trained by
the East of England Ambulance Service in basic life support
including oxygen therapy and the use of a defibrillator. We
provide the ambulance service with an immediate local response
in cases where minutes can save lives – people with chest pains,
breathing difficulties, choking or unconsciousness. In these
instances the Emergency Operations Centre calls us (on a
dedicated mobile phone) at the same time as they are despatching
their emergency vehicle(s). Coupled with cardiopulmonary
resuscitation (CPR) we can use our defibrillator to restart
someone’s heart. Once the ambulance crew arrives the First
Responder hands the patient over, although there are times when
the crew asks us to continue our treatment jointly with them.
George Coppin and John Eaton, our joint co-ordinators, say, “We
average a four-minute response time, including when we’re called
in the middle of the night, and are currently attending around 3
incidents a week - we have now (January 2010) been on over 1,600
life-threatening calls since forming in May 1997. Early
attendance to a ‘chest pain’ call can prevent a patient’s
condition worsening and so halt a full cardiac arrest. So far
six arrests have been re-started.
The oxygen we carry provides a very effective, immediate benefit
to patients. We believe it to be a life-saver. We also feel that
we are a source of comfort to patients and their loved ones
during the naturally worrying time waiting for the professionals
to arrive.”
Ours was the first group to be set up in the county, and in fact
was one of the first in the country. Our call sign is the
enviable “Echo Zulu 1”.
The group currently has 8 members including one husband-and-wife
team, with other Responders operating solo. There are a further
four new volunteers in various stages of their application
process. We are all volunteers, using our own vehicles and
paying for our fuel, and aim to provide a 24/7, 365 days a year
service. We have no dispensation to break speed limits or any
other road traffic laws and we do not carry blue lights,
flashing headlights or sirens. It would therefore assist us
greatly if other road users, on seeing a vehicle carrying its
First Responder signs and appearing to be in a hurry, give us a
bit of room and pull over if it is safe to do so.
We are very grateful for the support of local organisations and
townsfolk who have generously provided, amongst other things,
the following:
• the latest model (March 2007) defibrillator, which includes a
basic ECG monitor;
• a training defibrillator;
• an adult resuscitation manikin;
• an infant resuscitation manikin;
• a portable blood pressure monitor;
• a manikin for training to treat choking patients (he’s called
“Choking Charlie”!);
• bag and mask resuscitators (which links to our oxygen) for
adults, children and infants;
• an aspirator with disposable units;
In November 2009 a most generous donation was received from
Colne Yacht Club; from this we have already purchased a stock of
high-visibility jackets and are looking to (a) increase our
stock of magnetic vehicle signs, (b) purchase summer-weight polo
shirts, and (c) upgrade our equipment bags.
To date the value of donated equipment has exceeded £5,500.
A GREAT HONOUR
We have been greatly honoured to have officially received Royal
acknowledgement of our work in the community.
Along with members of West Mersea First Responder groups we
gathered at a ceremony in Colchester Town Hall in July 2008 to
receive the Queen's Award for Voluntary Services from Essex Lord
Lieutenant Lord Petre, who had been invited to present the award
on behalf of the Queen.
The award recognises excellence in voluntary activities carried
out in communities, and our groups were successful because we
were able to demonstrate, among other criteria, that we have a
proven track record of active involvement in the community and
we meet a particular need.
The Queen's Award nomination was made by the ambulance service's
Essex Community First Responder Manager John Hopkins because our
two groups have shown "real dedication and enthusiasm".
OUR GROUP IN 2010
New group photo to appear soon!
TO FIND OUT MORE, OR TO JOIN US
CALL GEORGE COPPIN ON 01206 303704
Link to the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust:
www.eastamb.nhs.uk
To find First Responders, click on ‘Services’, then ‘Accident
and Emergency’. Community First Responders are about halfway
down the list on the sidebar.
