Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service NHS Trust provides emergency, urgent and patient transport services across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, covering a geographical area of 1,512 square miles and a total population of 722,500.
In the year to March 2004 the Trust attended over 6,000 cardiac cases, comprising over 10% of the total emergency calls received. Nationally, seven out of ten cardiac arrests occur outside of hospital and currently only 2-3% of these people survive. When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, their chances of survival drop by up to 10% for every minute that passes, so a speedy response is crucial. Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can double a person’s chances of survival, and having a defibrillator close to hand can further increase their chances by more than a third.
In September 2004 the British Heart Foundation (BHF) launched the National Defibrillator Programme. Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service NHS Trust was awarded funding for the post of a Community Defibrillation Officer (CDO), to train volunteer life-savers, called Community Responders, who can be despatched by ambulance control to attend cardiac arrests. In addition the Trust was awarded 79 defibrillators as part of the £6 million programme, funded by The Big Lottery Fund.
To date Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service NHS Trust has recruited over seventy volunteers to train as Community Responders.
Recruitment and Training
The Trust has recruited volunteers through a media relations campaign in local press, which was targeted at those areas where the need was greatest, as well as via friends and family of staff. Those interested complete an application form and an interview. In addition they have a driving assessment, occupational health check and a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check.
Community First Responders then undergo 8 days of training in emergency care. The training will lead to a qualification, the Institute of Health Care Development (IHCD) First Person on Scene certificate.
The course covers:
- Introduction, scene safety, patient assessment, airway management, basic life support and defibrillation
- Medical emergencies including cardiac conditions, diabetic/neurological/respiratory emergencies
- Trauma emergencies and preparation for active duty
- Health and Safety awareness
Community First Responders also receive instruction in:
- Patient and scene management
- How to respond to a call
- How to report untoward incidents or unusual occurrences
- How to fill out patient report forms
- Providing verbal and written handover to ambulance crews
- Consent, confidentially and right of entry.
As part of the training course, Community First Responders spend time with an emergency ambulance crew and in the Communications Centre.
At the end of the training, each Community First Responder is required to pass a written knowledge test and practical assessment and, if successful, will be awarded the IHCD First Person on Scene certificate.
Management
The volunteers work in groups or schemes, based on a geographic area. When the Trust receives a 999 call to a cardiac patient, the on call Community Responder from the scheme will be despatched to the patient. Each scheme will have a full responder kit which will include a full automated External Defibrillator with spare pads. The Community Responder will be able to treat the patient until qualified help arrives.
The Trust will NOT send Community First Responders to attend any cases where anyone is believed to be under the influence of drink or drugs, or where there is a risk of violence.
Benefits
Patients gain obvious benefits from the volunteers’ work. Early treatment of a cardiac arrest can greatly increase the chances of survival and increase the quality of life when the patient recovers.
As a rural Ambulance Service, Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service NHS Trust is required to respond to 75% of life threatening calls within 8 minutes. The Community First Responders will help the Trust achieve this performance target.
In addition similar work in other Ambulance Trusts shows that Community First Responders who wish to become qualified paramedics are well placed to do so, having an increased understanding of the job. The Trust looks forward to being able to recruit trainee paramedics from among its Community First Responders.
For further information, or to become a Community First Responder visit the Trust website or contact:
www.hwas.nhs.uk
Michelle Brotherton
Community Defibrillation Officer
Hereford & Worcester Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Trust Headquarters
Bransford
Worcester
WR5 5JD
Tel: 01886 834200
Fax: 01886 834231
Michelle.brotherton@hwas-tr.wmids.nhs.uk
