HOW YOU CAN HELP
All CFR schemes are designed to be financially self-supporting. Although the Ambulance Service will provide all necessary support, training and the loan of medical equipment, it is likely that CFR schemes will wish to become involved in a variety of fundraising events in support of their work.Each scheme is expected to raise the necessary funding required to purchase their equipment and pay for training, from within the community they are serving. This also helps to strengthen community links and spirit.
Ideally, each team will consist of 10 -15 members and possess at least one set of equipment. The cost of providing this is initially £4800 with an annual running cost of £1000 +.The running costs cover training, re qualification and replacement of safety clothing such as high visibility jackets. Any administration cost will also fall within this budget.
A number of the teams throughout the country have secured sufficient funding to provide additional 'Kits' which helps to reduce response times.Many teams raise funds through local authority grants, fund raising events, donations and other methods
One of the most vital and also most expensive pieces of equipment carried by First Responders is the Automatic External Defibrillator (AED)
In the
U.K. 135,000 people die each year due to what is commonly known as a heart attack or myocardial infarction. Two thirds of these deaths happen outside of the hospital environment. Death is often due to a lethal, but treatable, electrical abnormality in the heart called ventricular fibrillation (VF) and only one treatment has been found to be effective: DEFIBRILLATION.
The Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) are easy to use and talk the user through step-by-step instructions.
Minutes save lives. The sooner a defibrillator is used the better chance the patient has of surviving. After a patient has collapsed following a heart attack and is having VF, every minute that a defibrillator is not used the chances of survival reduces by 7-10 %. This is where a Community First Responder can save lives.
There are several ways in which you can help your local Community First Responders, you could join them and do your training, help with fund raising or complete a course in CPR/First Aid so that you would know what to do in the case of an emergency.
You could start by having a fund raising event yourself, fun run,auction, or an event in your local etc or making a cash donation. The First Responder is a person who gives their time freely for the good of the community, many have full time occupations and families, hobbies and interests, but on receiving a call they respond immediately.
I implore you to give a little something back to help fund the equipment and training for this vital service, whether it be your time or money .
There are a large number of Community First Responder teams throughout the country,working under the auspices of their local Ambulance Service who will supply you with further details of how YOU can make a difference.
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