RAF responders celebrate a decade

Volunteers from RAF bases in the East of England are celebrating ten years of saving lives and helping Trust crews.

RAF responders attend patients within their local communities to give immediate life support where time can make the vital difference. The teams, based in Norfolk and Suffolk were part of the national First Response scheme, but now come under direct control of EEAST. They started life in 2001 at RAF Marham and RAF Coltishall in Norfolk, followed by RAF Honington in Suffolk in 2002.

The base at RAF Coltishall has since closed down but the remaining two teams are still going strong, under the official title First Response (East of England). Volunteers are trained in intermediate life support and CPR using defibrillator and undertake the same driving course as Trust staff.

Equipped with AEDs and vehicles they are then able to attend a variety of medical and trauma incidents under emergency conditions, including cardiac arrests and road traffic collisions. An EEAST member of staff is responsible for each team's training and validation. Phil Thomas, spokesman for First Response (East of England), said they are totally reliant on public donations and carry out a wealth of fundraising activities. "The teams have established an excellent reputation for their professionalism and commitment," he said. "If it was not for local fundraising we would not be in existence."