Community first responders
I think St John Ambulance is an amazing organisation. You only have to see the number of runners stopping for treatment to get a real understanding of the role they play during the marathon. Their help has saved lives; they are the unsung heroes of the day.
Lloyd Moreton
St John Ambulance marathon runner 2007
When a person suffers a cardiac arrest they lose consciousness
almost at once. Unless someone starts cardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR) within three to four minutes, the person may suffer permanent
damage to the brain and other organs.
Our neighbourhood first responder volunteers are trained to
attend emergency calls received by the ambulance
service and provide care until the ambulance
arrives.
Neighbourhood first responder volunteers arrive at an
emergency in a matter of minutes, as they are sent to calls in
their local area.
What does it involve
Commitment
You will be on call and will work shifts based on a rota. All we
ask is for four hours a month of your time. Many of our volunteers
do more if they wish.
Role
You will be despatched to
incidents at the same time as an ambulance.
As a first responder, you could help in the following
ways:
- Treating injuries
- Performing CPR
- Using an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Training
You will first receive all the medical training you
need.
Next step
To find out more about becoming a community first responder
you can complete our online form or you
can telephone 08700 10 49 50 to be put through to
your local St John Ambulance branch.