CENTRAL RESCUE UK

Registered Charity No: 1120842

Nunquam Non Paratus

Inshore Search and Rescue (Midlands)

(Supported entirely by voluntary contributions)

In an emergency dial 999 or 112

In 2011 Central Rescue UK were proud to train as and join the Community First responder scheme. We now respond to emergencies on land and on water for the benefit of the people of and visitors to Birmingham and West Midlands.

What is a Community First Responder (C.F.R)?

The Community First Responder (CFR) scheme is a partnership between the West Midlands  Ambulance Service (WMAS) NHS Trust and local groups of volunteers within their community.

As authourised volunteers for WMAS we work as part of a dedicated team of volunteers whose aim is to reduce the number of pre-hospital deaths in West Midlands.

Why do we have Community First Responders?

WMAS is committed to providing the highest standard of pre-hospital patient care to all those living in or passing through their boundaries. It is not always possible, however, to get an emergency vehicle to a patient with a potentially life-threatening condition within the first few vital minutes, particularly if they are situated in an outlying rural area.
In many medical emergencies the first few minutes are critical. If effective treatment can be provided in those first few minutes, lives can be saved and disabilities reduced. This is especially true for heart attacks and medical conditions that have caused someone to lose consciousness.

Community First Responders help save lives!

Community First Responders are trained in basic life support skills, the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) and to administer oxygen

How does it work?

When an emergency call is received at the WMAS 999 Communications Centre, an ambulance response is dispatched. At the same time a Community First Responder, on call in the area, can be alerted and asked to assist at the 999 incident to ensure emergency assistance reaches the patient as quickly as possible.

More than 275,000 people suffer a heart attack in the UK every year, about a third of whom die before reaching hospital due to cardiac arrest. The defibrillators carried by Community First Responders provide early intervention to patients suffering a cardiac arrest which is on of the keys to survival.

How do I become a Community First Responder?

You must be over 18 years of age and in good health. You must have access to a vehicle and hold a full driving licence.
Although Community First Responders join the scheme on a voluntary basis, they will still have to undergo a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check and complete a health declaration questionnaire.

Once you have been accepted as a volunteer you will undergo training from WMAS in basic life support (BLS). This includes patient assessment, airway management, defibrillation and Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and oxygen therapy.

Further Information.

For further information about the Community First Responder scheme or to apply to become a volunteer in your area, please contact the WMAS Network Response Team:

Tel :

West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust,
Headquarters