Community first responders (CFR)

When a person suffers a heart attack, they lose consciousness in a matter of seconds. Unless someone begins cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) within three to four minutes, the casualty may suffer permament damage to the brain and other organs.

Therefore, in Staffordshire we have community first responders volunteers who work within their local area, responding quickly to emergency calls recieved by the ambulance service and providing care until an ambulance arrives.

The scheme operates as a community partnership between St John Ambulance and local ambulance service trusts. Having someone in the community who has been trained in first aid and can reach the patient quickly, makes all the difference.

The aim is to supplement the ambulance service and to ensure that in circumstances such as cardiac arrest, defibrillation and other time-critical life saving techniques, first aid can be administrated as soon as possible to maximise the chances of a casualty's survival.