magpas   DEDICATED VOLUNTEER LIFESAVERS

A Community First Responder is a local volunteer who we train to be able to provide life saving treatment to those people within the local community who are critically ill in the few minutes prior to the arrival of an ambulance.

We know that in many medical emergencies people can die within the first few minutes. We also know that if certain simple but critical interventions can be performed within those first few minutes, that life can be saved and disability reduced. This is especially the case for heart attacks and choking.

In recent years, advances in technology have been made, and many interventions which were previously performed only by highly trained individuals are now available to people with much less training. These include small, easy to operate 'external defibrillators' (AEDs) and lightweight oxygen delivery systems.

All Magpas Community First Responders need a First Aid Qualification. Responders can either attend a first aid course organised by Magpas, or use an existing first aid qualification they may have attained through work or other voluntary organisation. Magpas will then provide specific first responder training over a two day period. They will also undergo refresher training - this consists of one evening every three months.

First Responders are organized in locally managed groups in each community in Cambridgeshire where a First Responder group has been set up. A minimum of 5 volunteers is required to make a group viable
Each group elects a local co-ordinator and plans their own ‘on-call’ rota to cover as much of 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, as possible.

Each group is supported by Magpas, through the Magpas Community First Responder Manager. The Manager keeps in close contact with all local co-ordinators, ensuring that appropriate training, equipment and admin support is provided for all Responders.

A Community First Responder on duty receives a call or text message from Ambulance Control following a 999 call about a life threatening situation in their community. The Community First Responder receives the address of the patient a brief description of the problem, and how far the ambulance will have to travel.

As the Community First Responder is local there is minimal driving, and in some case they can walk to the scene. On arrival, the Community First Responder has the equipment and skill/knowledge to manage the patient in those first critical minutes until the ambulance arrives.

If driving is involved, it is under the Highway Code regulations in the volunteer's own car and no special dispensation will be made for breaking the law.

An important aspect of the Magpas Community First Responder Scheme is support for our volunteers. We recognise that dealing with an emergency situation can be stressful, especially if the patient is known to the Community First Responder. There will always be someone who can talk through the incidents and the emotions they evoke.

It costs approximately £5,000 to train and equip enough volunteers to start each Community First Responder Group and ongoing running costs each year to maintain the running of each group are approximately £1,000.

The bulk of Magpas' income comes from charitable donations from the people of Cambridgeshire.

In general terms, there might be three life threatening 999 calls per 1000 population per year. So if a community had only 1000 people, then the actual number of times that a Community First Responder would be called to a life-threatening situation is only three times a year.

The hardest part about being a Community First Responder is being available within the community and prepared to go when one of those three calls comes in. This time commitment is not onerous as you can do your normal activities while on call, as long as you’re ready to attend if a call comes.

Remember - that call may be a life saved and there is no greater feeling than being responsible for having saved life.

All Community First Responders are trained to a high standard and will be expected to operate within a code of practice. They are insured against accidental injury and third party liabilities by Magpas. As agents of the Ambulance Service, they are insured against any medical negligence. There has never been a case of a volunteer first responder being sued for alleged mistakes during attempts to save life.

The Ambulance Service provides a rapid call-out for duty first responders using mobile phones.

To be a Community First Responder you need to…

• be between 18 and 70 years of age
• be medically and physically fit enough to complete training and fulfil the role
• be ready to undergo training and a competence test (plus annual re-test)
• have your own transport and a clean driving licence.
• agree to be CRB checked.

For details of how to apply to become a First Responder, please contact our office on 01480 371061, or email us on info@magpas.org.uk.