Bourne First Responders - About Us

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What is a First Responder?

A First Responder is a volunteer within a local community team who works on a rota to go out to patients with breathing difficulties, chest pain, heart attack, choking, and collapse.


Why are First Responders needed when we have Ambulance Stations?

When patients are suffering with a cardiac arrest, their chance of survival reduces by 10% every minute. Thus in cases where a rural community is more than ten miles from an ambulance station, chance of survival from a cardiac arrest is greatly reduced.

Lincolnshire is a very rural community with 21 ambulance stations. The roads are particularly bad in the winter and there are lots of remote towns and villages. Therefore First Responder groups have formed in order to provide care to patients with breathing difficulties. These groups are needed to provide basic life support in those crucial minutes before the ambulance arrives on scene.


How will I be trained to become a First Responder?

LIVES will provide specific First Responder training over a one-day period, which will cover all the skills and knowledge that a First Responder will need. First Responders are trained by paramedics with specialist knowledge in the use of and AED (automated external defibrillator), basic life support, oxygen therapy and minor trauma. This means that if the patient collapsed and hurt their arm or leg, the First Responder would be able to administer the correct first aid. First Responders do not go out to road traffic accidents or children.

After a day of intense training, practical and theoretical examinations take place in order to equip First Responders for real life situations.


How do First Responder Community Groups work?

The main aim of LIVES is to have First Responder Community groups in every town, village, and hamlet across Lincolnshire.

Each scheme will have a local coordinator who will manage the group. A group of around ten volunteers will cover a six minute radius within their own community on a weekly rota. The team can cover their area on a part or full time basis.

The First Responders are called out via ambulance control and attend the incident as soon as possible. In order to buy the equipment needed to run a First Responder group, they need to raise £4,000.


How do First Responders get to the patient?

First Responder will use their own method of transport. Whether in their own car or walking. They are fully insured by LIVES when acting on a call but must keep to the rules within the highway code.


What happens after the incident?

The First Responder will record all the information regarding the incident on a patient report form. Unfortunately in some cases, the patient may pass away in which case the paramedics who will always arrive on scene at the same time or after you, will deal with this. The top copy of the patient report form is given to the paramedics and the bottom copy sent to LIVES within seven days.These forms are needed so that we can track incidents and also record the success of providing pre hospital care in Lincolnshire.

We do realise at LIVES that our First Responders may experience some harrowing call outs. We have councellors and doctors on hand for Responders with whom they can discuss any issues that they may have.


Why does it cost so much to start a First Responder group?

The reason a scheme like this costs so much is because the defibrillator (AED) alone costs around £2,500. We then have to pay for training, insurance, reflective clothing, first aid kits, oxygen, administration, and torches.


What if a mistake is made?

The techniques and training given to First Responders are simple and safe. In most cases of breathing difficulties, there is not a lot you can do wrong.

However, all our Responders are insured fully by LIVES. (for more information call LIVES HQ)


We endeavour to provide cover 24/7 but are restricted by the number of active members available to us (currently 7). To be able to provide the desired cover we need in the region of 14 volunteers.

Why not come aong to our next meeting and find out more about us. There is NO OBLIGATION to join.

Meetings Information:
Meetings are held on a monthly basis at varying locations.

Meetings are used to discuss the previous month's activities, Plan the next month's rota and to carry out refresher training for any member that requires.

Membership Information:
Anyone can volunteer to join the First Responders with any time commitment ranging from half a day per month to regular days during any particular month.

Contact:

Telephone : 0

Website: http://www.livesuk.org

EMail: livesdata@btinternet.com

Community

Last updated : 25/08/2004 10:07:53

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