HEYBRIDGE COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
Note that conditions of service vary throughout the country and expectations may also differ from one group to another. The answers given here relate to the East of England Ambulance Service, and specifically to the group in Heybridge.
COULD I BECOME A FIRST RESPONDER? WOULD IT SUIT ME?
| How old are you? | You must be at least 18 years old. There is no upper age limit. Responders may continue to give service whilst they are fit and able to do so, but new volunteers will not be recruited after the age of 70. |
| Can you drive? | You will need your own transport to attend calls. Your motor insurance provider must be made aware that you are using your vehicle for this voluntary service. A letter to the insurer can be provided to assist with this notification. Insurers normally accept this use of your car with no additional premium. |
| Where do you live? | Responders normally base themselves at home
when they are on duty. In this case, you need to live in
Heybridge, or close enough to reach most parts of Heybridge
within eight minutes if you are going to join the Heybridge
group. Some of our members live in great Totham, for instance. There is a separate group in Maldon. If you live outside the area of Heybridge and Maldon, there may be another group that you could join. |
| Do you have some spare time? | Most Responders commit themselves to a regular pattern of duty. It may be during the day, or an evening, or at night. It is helpful if volunteers can manage a period of at least a few hours each week. For those who undertake longer periods of duty, breaks may be taken when they are needed. We understand that it is a voluntary activity and there is no pressure to do more than you can manage. |
| What do I do when I am on duty? | Just carry on with your normal activities. You may complete several duty periods without having to do anything, but you do need to react quickly if you are called. It is also possible that you will be called several times in the same duty period. |
| Do I need to be trained in first aid? | Some new members already have first aid experience but this is not necessary. You will be given full training during two days at the Ambulance Training Headquarters in Broomfield. After that, the Group trains for one evening each month in Heybridge to refresh your skills and update your knowledge. You are assessed every six months to ensure that you are still able to provide the care needed. |
| What qualities do I need? | You need commitment and you need to care about other people in your community, especially the elderly. You will need some confidence, though this will grow as you become more experienced as a Responder. We do not normally see blood, though you do need to able to cope with patients who are clearly suffering. |
| Is there a uniform? | No. Responders wear their own tidy clothes but we do issue a high visibility jacket and a photo identity card, both of which must be worn when attending a call. |
| Do I need any special driving skills? | No. Magnetic signs are used to identify your car when you are on duty. These do not permit you to drive in any way that contravenes any traffic laws. We aim to reach patients quickly, within eight minutes where possible, but we must observe speed limits and put safety as our main priority. We do not use blue lights or sirens. |
| What sort of calls can I be asked to attend? | You can be sent to any patient over the age of 8 years. The condition of the patient is normally classified as category A. These are calls that could be life threatening, though many seem less serious, sometimes because of your rapid intervention. Chest pains and breathing difficulty are both common calls. You may be asked to attend patients in cardiac arrest. In these cases, your treatment can save the life of the patient. You will not be called to road accidents or any incident where there is known to be a risk of violence. |
| Do I have to attend every call I am given? | No. Ambulance Control will give you a brief description of the call and the location of the patient. If you have any reason to feel that it is inappropriate for you then you may decline the call. Furthermore, if you arrive at the given location and decide, for whatever reason, that you do not wish to proceed, then you may call Control and withdraw your attendance. Instances such as these are very rare. |
| Does it delay the ambulance if I accept a call? | No. You will be activated using a dedicated mobile phone. By the time you receive the call, an ambulance will already be alerted to attend. Indeed, it is not unusual for the ambulance to arrive before you. In this case, you may be asked to assist or you may be stood down. There are times, however, when the nearest ambulance is much further away than you are. Then you have the responsibility of assisting the patient until the ambulance arrives, usually a few minutes but occasionally much longer. |
| What equipment do I carry? | Equipment is passed around the group members to the person on duty. The main items you need are packed in a large bag which some members find quite heavy. Oxygen is the item most frequently used. There is equipment to deal with cardiac arrests, including a defibrillator. A few bandages are carried and also protective items like surgical gloves. |
| Do I work on my own? | Responders are trained to work alone, and many do. Some prefer to work in pairs, especially married couples, and this is acceptable. |
| Is there a minimum period of service? | No. It is costly to recruit and train new volunteers, so we would encourage you to think carefully before deciding to join a group, and we would hope that you want to continue responding as a regular member of the group. If you decide to give up, no pressure will be applied. You simply return your issued jacket and identity card. In some cases, volunteers simply need a period of time free from the commitment, and this is also an option. |
| Are there any instances where an application to join is rejected? | Yes. The Ambulance Service has to be confident that you are honest and reliable. You will be asked to nominate two people to provide a brief reference. You will also have to consent to a CRB (Criminal Records) check. A previous conviction does not necessarily prevent you from joining; each case is considered on its merits. The Ambulance Service will wish to know that you are physically and mentally fit to be a Responder and you will have to pass an assessment of your initial training before being allowed to go on duty. |
| Do I get paid? | No. This is a totally voluntary activity. No payments for time or expenses are made. |
| Am I insured? | Yes. If you attend a call from Ambulance Control then you covered for any problems that may arise in connection to the treatment that the patient is given, providing that you act in accordance with the training you have been given. Your own motor insurance must cover the journey to and from the patient. |
| Is it worthwhile? | Absolutely! It may become frustrating if you go through a long period without a call, or if the ambulance always seems to arrive before you. You may also attend calls when there is very little for you to do. Then there are the calls when you can see that the patient and family members are so relieved that you have arrived quickly. The reassurance you provide helps enormously and the treatment you can give may prevent the situation from deteriorating. In the ultimate case of a cardiac arrest, you may save a life. |
| I have other questions. | Contact info@basinheartwatch.co.uk or attend one of our training meetings - details are on the Events page. |
| How do I join? | Contact the Group Coordinator, who is a volunteer Responder (Gordon Brown, browngp@tiscali.co.uk , 01621 842526). |
