Swanage Community First Responders in Swanage

Swanage Community First Responders

Community First Responders (CFRs) operate within the communities in which they live or work, providing lifesaving emergency aid early and ahead of ambulance arrival.  The South Western Ambulance Service is supported by over 800 Community First Responders, attending around 40,000 incidents each year – helping to save lives, reduce pain and provide reassurance to those requiring emergency care.   

Charitable donations are used to support our volunteers by funding equipment and training over and above that provided by the Trust. 

How donations to the Swanage Community First Responder group will be used

Examples of how charitable funding can help to enhance the service and care provided by our CFR groups include:

 - Defibrillator placement, maintenance and training

 - Enhanced Observation Equipment including:

Tympanic Thermometer - A Tympanic Thermometer can be used as an early warning sign for underlying medical conditions such as sepsis or meningitis.

Automatic Sphygmomanometer and cuffs – An automated blood pressure monitor allows recordings to be scheduled to ensure regular, accurate monitoring, it also provides the ability to select the most appropriate cuff size and will support a user who may have a hearing deficit. 

Pulse Oximeter - A pulse oximeter measures oxygen levels in the blood as well as pulse.  Monitoring is continuous to ensure that any changes in pulse or oxygen levels are highlighted immediately for appropriate action.

Blood Glucose monitor – Blood glucose monitors are used to monitor blood sugar levels.  This is particularly important for diabetes management.

 - Emergency Lifting Chairs - A Raizer Lifting Chair is a battery operated mobile lifting chair that helps a fallen person up to almost standing position within a few minutes.  Equipping a Community First Responder with an emergency lifting chair will enable early assistance to a patient who has experienced a non-injury fall, and reduce potential complications associated with long lies. This will also help ensure the most appropriate allocation of emergency services resources.

About the South Western Ambulance Charity

The South Western Ambulance Charity was created in 1995 with an overall objective to fund activities that benefit the patients of the NHS and therefore provide a public benefit.  The aim of the charity is to “Go the extra mile for staff, volunteers and the communities we serve”.  Although the Ambulance Service is funded by the government through the NHS, there is always a need for extra money to provide an even better service to patients.  The Charity does this in three main ways: 

 - Supporting exceptional people

The Staying Well Service provides the staff and volunteers of the South Western Ambulance Service with access to sources of help and support with their physical and mental health and wellbeing.  The importance of having a confidential lifeline for those people who are, by the very nature of the work they do, often exposed to traumatic and disturbing events, can’t be underestimated.  The Staying Well Service is funded by the Ambulance Service with charitable income used to extend the support and services available to our exceptional people.  Additionally, the charity also supports the personal development of our staff and volunteers through the provision of training and development bursaries.

 - Supporting communities

The South Western Ambulance Charity is supporting defibrillator placement, maintenance and training across the 10,000 square miles served by the Ambulance Service.  Increased public access to defibrillators results in more people receiving a life-saving shock as quickly as possible, giving them the best possible chance of survival.

 - Supporting volunteer heroes

Community First Responders are members of the public who volunteer to help reach those patients most in need.  CFRs can be called on at any time, day or night, and as the most rural Ambulance Service in England, the contribution of the CFRs is invaluable.  CFRs are trained and governed by the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.   Each CFR group is provided with an extensive kit bag containing everything required for basic life support in advance of an ambulance crew attending.  In addition to this, local fundraising activities are undertaken to purchase enhanced equipment to benefit their local communities.

To support us to purchase essential equipment you can donate via our website link above.