RURAL COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS EXPERIENCE RELATIVELY LONG RESPONSE TIMES FOR AMBULANCES TRAVELLING FROM NEWCASTLE, BUT YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS ARE USUALLY ON SCENE WITHIN 6 MINUTES AND ARE ABLE TO OFFER TREATMENT AND STABALISE THE PATIENT UNTIL THE PARAMEDICS ARRIVE.

All the responders are fully trained volunteers and are not paid in any way. All donations go on the running and upkeep of the vehicle and its contents. It also provides for training and uniforms. All the money collected is used to the benefit of the community.

 

 

A FEW CFR FACTS.

· The group is fully trained by volunteers.

· Currently there are 18 fully trained and active  First Responders.

· If you call 999 the Responders will receive a call from the control centre to respond to you.

· They cover over 2500 homes.

· If you have a heart attack and you receive treatment within the first 6 minutes you are 80% more likely to survive.

· The Responders all live and play locally and they include a member of the ambulance service, a retired teacher, a psychotherapist, I.T manager, trained nurses and many other professionals.

· Since going live in August 2005 the group have responded to over x calls.

· The Responders range from 23 years of age to 60ish (that would be telling)

· The Responder vehicle is equipped with the best equipment available and is maintained to an exceptionally high standard within the parish.

· You can help with a rapid response by ensuring your house name/number can you seen clearly from the road, and wherever possible at night leave a light on outside when you call for the service.

· The responders aim to give 24 hour cover 365 days a year and so far they have managed to achieve this.