First Responder Schemes wanted

The Scottish Ambulance Service is looking for volunteers to set up a number of Community First Responder schemes in North Shetland in Brae and Mossbank area
and in the Sandwick area of South Shetland.

Since the launch of its Community First Responder initiative several years ago, the
Scottish Ambulance Service has seen over 50 schemes established nationally, over 30 of
which are in the North of Scotland.

Under the scheme, the Scottish Ambulance Service trains community volunteers in basic
medical interventions and vital life saving skills and provides the appropriate medical
equipment so that they can deliver an early response to patients while the ambulance is
on its way. The ambulance service's Emergency Medical Dispatch Centre deploys the responders to appropriate calls.

Alan Knox, Community Resuscitation Development Officer for the Scottish Ambulance Service said:" The First Responder initiative creates an even faster response for patients and is co-ordinated with our existing ambulance resources. In a medical emergency it is often the basic simple skills that can enhance immediate life threatening conditions that may save a life."

"The programme is an enhancement to our existing ambulance resources and each
scheme works locally with our staff to ensure ongoing refresher training in basic life saving
skills and the use of medical equipment. 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' (Shock Boxes) and lightweight oxygen delivery systems."

• Anyone interested in setting up a scheme in these communities should contact:

Alan Knox (CRDO) E-mail: aknox@scotamb.co.uk or Peter Smith, Team Leader Lerwick Ambulance Station; Tel 01595 695 344.