HEDON’S Community First Responders were out meeting shoppers over the weekend.
Community First Responders are specially trained local volunteers who respond to emergency calls received by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service; they can often provide life-saving treatment to patients before an ambulance arrives on scene. The local responders team, supported by the Ambulance Service, were at the Hedon Co-op on Saturday explaining to people about what they do.
Trish Kilner, a Community Defibrillation Trainer, with Yorkshire Ambulance Service, told us that there were currently 8 members of the Hedon team but they were keen to recruit new members: “We take our recruitment very seriously and will interview and CRB check potential recruits. We support our volunteers who take part in an initial training programme and then undertake regular bi-monthly training. Every six months Responders will do re-qualification training.
We’re also very protective of our volunteers and they will only attend particular emergency situations where their training can make a difference.”
To become a Community First Responder you need to be 18 or over, hold a valid driving licence and have access to a car. You need to be prepared to undertake an Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check and be willing and able to undertake all the necessary training.
Photo: Pictured above are (left to right) Gary Cousins, Ali Richardson, Trish Kilner, Tim Houlton, Caroline Lowden and Gareth Roberts.
You can find out more about the Hedon Community First Responders team – who cover Hedon, Paull, Preston and Thorngumbald – from Coordinator, Gordon Todd on mobile 07979 691 271 and more general information about Community First Responders from Yorkshire Ambulance Service at the website below.
