Helping Community First Responders to save more lives

Volunteers in Wisbech will be able to save more lives thanks to new equipment.

Community First Responders have received a second kit to provide emergency cover thanks to Wisbech Lions and the Town Council.

Thanks to this donation two community responders, who are volunteers trained by the ambulance service, will be on call simultaneously.

This will also allow the team to cover both sides of Wisbech.

The donation will also help to potentially halve 999 response times in the town.

Pete Goodey, co-ordinator for the Wisbech group, says this will make a big difference.

He said: “We are very grateful to the Lions and the councillors who have supported helping us fund a phone contract, oxygen and pulse measuring equipment plus a defibrillator needed to complete a second kit for the group.

“As we respond from home, this made sense as two of us live on the north side and two on the south.

“The main benefit will be to time critical calls such as cardiac arrests.

“These patients need defibrillating as soon as possible to increase the chance of survival. Travelling across town in busy periods can sometimes take up to 10 to 12 minutes, so having a responder closer to potential calls really will be a life-saver.”

Anyone interested in becoming a Community First Responder can find out more on the East of England Ambulance Service website under ‘Get Involved’ or can e-mail: norfolkresponder@eastamb.nhs.uk