MORE community first aid volunteers are desperately needed to serve the west of the Island.
St John Ambulance, in conjunction with the Department of Health, is trying to recruit more Community First Responders (CFR) for the whole of the Island and Peel in particular.
Community First Responders are highly skilled volunteer first aiders who are sent to aid patients and potentially provide life saving treatment for those waiting for an ambulance.
Three Community First Responders from Peel recently joined the bank staff for the Ambulance Service which has left Peel with only one Community First Responder - Shaun Cannan.
Shaun, 26, has been a CFR since 2006. He said: "I would recommend being a CFR as it gives great satisfaction knowing you’ve made a difference to someone who has needed medical assistance in your own community."
When an emergency call is received by the Emergency Services’ Joint Control Room (ESJCR) a CFR is called on a mobile phone and dispatched at the same time as the ambulance. The CFR can be on scene shortly after the 999 call.
Shaun explained: "When we arrive on scene we reassure the patient and relatives so that when the ambulance service arrives the situation is calm. This allows them to gain a clear history of events. As a CFR I’m also trained to stabilise the patient’s condition before the ambulance service’s arrival."
Shaun works for the Ambulance and Paramedic Service as well as being a CFR.
He said: "The CFR scheme is fantastic but for the last couple of years there have only been a couple of responders covering the west of the Island.
"I gave about 2,500 hours of cover last year and this is all voluntary – booking on as a CFR with the ESJCR when I finish work , covering the night, and booking off in the morning before leaving for work."
Community First Responders are trained over two weekends at the headquarters of St John Ambulance in Douglas. Volunteers are trained to deal with medical emergencies including the administration of oxygen and the use of a defibrillator.
Steve Sieling, chief ambulance officer, said: "This is a great opportunity to serve your local community and be of real benefit. The training St John Ambulance provides is first class and equips you with all the necessary skills to care for someone in an emergency situation. Who knows – as in Shaun’s case, being a CFR may even lead to a future career change."
Community First Responder schemes operate in Peel, Ramsey, Laxey, the south of the Island and Kirk Michael.
Anyone interested in training to be a Community First Responder should contact Peter Smith at peter.smith@gov.im or 01624 642582.
