| Index |
BRIGHTLINGSEA FIRST RESPONDERS
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. John Clarke, our co-ordinator, says, “We average a four-minute response time, including when we’re called in the middle of the night, and are currently attending around 4 incidents a week - we have now (March 2007) been on over 1000 ‘red’ (life-threatening) calls since forming in June 1997. Early attendance to a ‘chest pain’ call can prevent a patient’s condition worsening and so halt a full cardiac arrest. So far five 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 at large (a similar scheme had earlier been established at the Lakeside shopping centre), and in fact was one of the first in the country. Our call sign is the enviable “First Responder 1”. The group currently has 9 members who come from all parts of the community, and we have two husband-and-wife teams in addition to our Responders operating solo. 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; To date the value of donated equipment has exceeded £5,000. Are First Responders successful? Proof if proof were needed: Essex now has over 50 First Responder groups. TO FIND
OUT MORE, OR TO JOIN US Link to the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust: www.essamb.co.uk
|