Every second counts when someone has a serious illness and simple interventions performed by Community First Responders (CFR) can save lives or prevent disability.
The Kings Sutton Parish Council and regulars at the White Horse Public House in Kings Sutton, South Northamptonshire, have each donated significant sums of money to enable their CFR team to purchase vital life saving equipment.
The Kings Sutton Community First Responder Scheme was launched in February 2011. Elaine Cross is co-ordinator of the scheme and gratefully accepted the £1200 Parish Council donation and £324 donation from the White Horse. She said: “We help the ambulance service to save lives. When someone has had a serious illness in our community, the on-call CFR is dispatched at the same time as an ambulance and because we are already in the village we can be providing essential treatment whilst the ambulance crew travels to the scene.
“We give a fast response to people who suffer a cardiac arrest (heart attack), have chest pains, people who are unconscious, or who have severe breathing difficulties. We arrive on scene with a kit bag which contains an Automated External Defibrillator (a machine that delivers an electric shock to the heart), aspirators, breathing masks and basic first aid equipment.
“The generous donations from the Parish Council and regulars at the White Horse have enabled us to purchase all the equipment we need to respond to such emergencies. On behalf of the people who will need a response from us in the future, we thank them for their continued support and valuable donations.”