BECOME A COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDER TO SAVE LIVES IN BEIGHTON & SOTHALL

Yorkshire Ambulance Service has recruited seven volunteers to train to become Community First Responders in a new scheme to be set up in Beighton and Sothall.

The volunteers began training on 13th November and the training should be complete early in the New Year. The scheme will then 'go live' and the volunteers will begin responding to certain 999 calls in the Beighton & Sothall areas.

What are Community First Responders?

First Responders are volunteers who help save lives. They provide immediate care to members of their local communities who are showing signs of heart attack or have suffered a collapse. They are trained to attend emergency calls received by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, providing life saving care in the vital minutes prior to arrival of the ambulance. They are also trained in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED). This is a machine that delivers a controlled electric shock to restart the heart. Volunteers work on a rota system and are provided with an AED and a mobile telephone to ensure the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Communications Centre can remain in contact with them. They administer treatment at the scene until an ambulance crew arrives. Responders are in no way a replacement for the ambulance response. When an emergency call is received at the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Communications Centre, an ambulance is dispatched immediately. At the same time a First Responder, on-call in the area, is notified with the relevant details and asked to assist at the 999 incident. First Responders are only asked to attend incidents involving chest pain, difficulty breathing or unconscious collapse. Responders are not asked to attend any other 999 calls. South Yorkshire has around 100 First Responders active in over 30 schemes and nationally there are thousands of responders attached to all ambulance services

Why Are First Responders Necessary? More than 260,000 people suffer a heart attack in the UK each year, about a third of whom die before reaching hospital due to cardiac arrest. A cardiac arrest most often occurs as a result of a heart attack, when the heart is starved of oxygen. Cardiac arrests cause the heart either to quiver - known as fibrillation - or stop beating altogether. The defibrillators work by delivering a controlled electric shock through the chest wall to the heart to restore a normal heartbeat after a cardiac arrest. Research has shown that early defibrillation is the most important factor affecting the survival of patients in cardiac arrest. If the collapsed patient receives effective CPR and early defibrillation within the first few minutes of their heart stopping, the chances of survival are greatly improved. First Responders also carry Oxygen Therapy equipment and so can provide reassurance and pain relief to patients suffering chest pain or breathing problems until the ambulance arrives.
Why has this area been identified for a scheme? Because time is so crucial in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest, the outlying areas of South Yorkshire have been identified as the areas most likely to benefit from a Community First Responder Scheme, because responders can often begin life-saving treatment in advance of the ambulance arriving at the scene. Beighton has a higher than average rate of Coronary Heart Disease, a condition which can lead to heart problems such as heart attack. Beighton also appears to have a strong sense of community spirit which has been shown to be crucial in making a success of Community First Responder Schemes
	Why do people become First Responders? Every responder has their own reasons for giving their time to this life-saving initiative. Some people have lost family members due to sudden cardiac arrest and feel that such a scheme may help people in similar situations. Some are interested in gaining experience for a future career such as joining the ambulance service or other NHS or public service arena. Some are interested in gaining First Aid skills and being involved in a worthwhile initiative. Some have spare time which they wish to fill in a constructive and worthwhile way
Where is the funding coming from? This scheme is possible due to an award from the British Heart Foundation of 12 AEDs to Yorkshire Ambulance Service (South Division) under its National Defibrillator Programme, supported with £6 million from the Big Lottery Fund and delivered in partnership with the Department of Health. This will mean the general public will benefit from having life saving equipment immediately accessible within their own local communities. Katharine Peel, Head of Emergency Life Support at the British Heart Foundation, said: "The National Defibrillator Programme is a significant step forward in emergency care for cardiac arrest victims and the BHF is proud to be working with the Big Lottery Fund and the Department of Health to save lives. We know from meeting people whose lives have been saved by defibrillators that their value is priceless. Now, with the crucial help of volunteers and the expertise of the ambulance trusts, we will be able to give many more people a second chance at life." The award also supports Community Defibrillation Officer Emma Scott to provide support and training for the Beighton scheme and she will work closely with staff and the community to boost skills in both Basic Life Support and defibrillation.
What training and support is provided? Volunteers will attend a short course, held in the local community, delivered and assessed by our service trainers. The course covers all aspects of emergency life support and the use of the AED, in addition to providing training in the all-important skills of how to deal with an emergency situation. Regular update sessions are arranged to ensure that volunteers maintain the skills necessary to save lives. A member of the First Responder team will meet with the group on a regular basis to discuss and issues that may have arisen, update responder skills and provide any support required. Responders are offered support after any incident attended if they so require.
	Where can I find out more about Defibrillation and First Responders? The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is leading the battle against heart and circulatory disease - the UK's biggest killer. The Charity is a major funder and authority in cardiovascular research. It plays an important role in funding education, both of the public and of health professionals, and in providing life-saving cardiac equipment and support for rehabilitation and patient care. For more information about the BHF, visit www.bhf.org.uk Since 2000, the Department of Health Defibrillators in Public Places initiative has funded the installation of almost 700 automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in 110 public places including railway stations, airports and one shopping centre. This National Defibrillator Programme completes the NHS Plan target to provide a total of 3,000 defibrillators across England. Visit www.dh.gov.uk and search for "National Defibrillator Programme" for more information. An information booklet about the value of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) is available from at bhf.org.uk/publications
The Cardiac Science G3 Defibrillator -