The Isle of Wight Ambulance Service has welcomed 4 new volunteer Community First Responders to help support the local community, with more due to join the response team in the coming weeks.
After several months of training and undertaking skill drills, the new CFRs are now ready to respond in their local community. They are fully equipped and ready to attend life-threatening emergencies as deployed by the Ambulance Service.
Volunteer Community First Responders (CFRs) use their own cars and don’t have blue lights or sirens, but being truly local means they can be on scene with a patient in just a few minutes. They provide vital enhanced first aid skills until the arrival of an ambulance crew or rapid response paramedics, sometimes making the difference between life and death.
The increase in the number of CFRs across all areas of the Island will have a big impact on both patient care and experience.
Iain Reeves, Paramedic Community Response Performance Support Officer said:
“It has been a privilege to assist the new CFRs with their learning journey to become responders. They have all worked extremely hard through the most difficult of circumstances to get to this point and they have achieved so much and we are so grateful for their time and commitment.”
New recruit Kerry said:
“I’ve wanted to be part of the ambulance service for years and what better way to start than become a responder, not only getting a taste for the amazing job they do but giving back into the community. I am really excited to be qualified and put all the wonderful training I’ve had to use”
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Brilliant, thanks for volunteering
Hi, I would love to join and help our community, how do I sign up please
Brilliant well done all 4 of you