community first responders - any out there?

[christine34]

Hi, am interested in volunteering to become a community first responder with my local ambulance service, just wondering if anyone out there has any words of advice, can tell me how they've found it? I already hold a first aid certificate and am CRB checked due to current job, but have always felt that I'd like to do this, to put something back into the community. I suppose if I;m honest, the only thing that worries me is my hopeless sense of direction!! Not good if you're being counted on to get somewhere, even though you're obviously going to be closely followed by the professionals!! Thanks.

Christine34 - Hi.
Being a Community first responder is hugely rewarding and a wonderful service to your community. Your local Ambulance Service will give you all the training and support to be able to react to emergency calls. You will only be asked to attend "Category A" calls (so you won't be going out multiple times to give First Aid), you will offer Basic Life Support (BLS) and only be engaged once an Ambulance or Rapid Response vehicle is allocated. You'll get training in good quality CPR, O2 therapy, and how to render assistance to unconscious casualties or those suffering from Heart Attacks, Stokes, or breathing difficulties. Your local team may or may not carry out intermediate level treatments like the use of equipment to assist breathing (BVM) or placing plastic airways and a few other key treatments.
One of the major reasons for having CFR's is to be able to deliver and use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) which is the device used to help put a heart back into a healthy rhythm in some circumstances.
You'll also benefit from getting involved with like minded people.
Hope this helps a little and I'd thoroughly recommend getting involved.
Martin.

Hi, Martin - thanks so much for all of the useful advice, very much appreciated. It is definitely something I am going to seriously consider - are you one yourself? Thanks again.

Christine34.
Yes I am a CFR and we have quite a busy FRU (First Responder Unit). We are fortunate in that we have a fully funded response kit (some teams need to buy everything). We are a fairly remote community so are considered key in delivering a rapid response. Check your Ambulance service website and look under careers/working for us, if not, the mighty Google search will track your local team down.
Good luck and you'll not regret joining..
Martin.

Thanks for words of encouragement, Martin! Well done you for already becoming a CFR! I have decided to definitely go for it, despite my reservations about my slightly poor sense of direction - seriously though, do know local area quite well and have sat nav as a back up!!!! Thanks again and good luck with your future with the FRU.