The Website of Vale First Responders - VFR is a Community First Responder group
In association with East Midlands Ambulance Service
Covering The Vale of Belvoir - North Leicestershire and South Nottinghamshire
To read our disclaimer page, please click HERE
Vale First Responders is a charity registered in England and Wales number 1115596 - to see our registration details, click HERE
Community First Responders are primarily called to attend "Category A" emergency calls, these are 999
calls which the East Midlands Ambulance Service deem to be "Serious and/or life threatening" and therefore
by there very nature need medical help to arrive as quickly as possible, usually within the first 8 minutes
from the 999 call being made. "Category A" calls are usually where the patient is suffering from some of
the following symptoms:-
calls which the East Midlands Ambulance Service deem to be "Serious and/or life threatening" and therefore
by there very nature need medical help to arrive as quickly as possible, usually within the first 8 minutes
from the 999 call being made. "Category A" calls are usually where the patient is suffering from some of
the following symptoms:-
These types of calls are classed as medical emergencies, and can happen both
at home and in public places. First Responders are never intentionally called to
emergencies involving children under 12 or severe trauma cases such as road traffic
accidents.
at home and in public places. First Responders are never intentionally called to
emergencies involving children under 12 or severe trauma cases such as road traffic
accidents.
Since more than 70% of sudden cardiac arrest cases occur out of hospital, it is unlikely that Paramedics will
be on the scene at the onset, so the ability of the First Responders to get to a patient quickly and administer
basic life saving support until the Ambulance Paramedic arrives is vital, especially in rural areas where an
Ambulance cannot always reach the scene straight away.
be on the scene at the onset, so the ability of the First Responders to get to a patient quickly and administer
basic life saving support until the Ambulance Paramedic arrives is vital, especially in rural areas where an
Ambulance cannot always reach the scene straight away.
Over 110,000 people die every year in the UK from heart attacks
and the chance of survival decreases by between 7 and 10%
with each minute that passes when a patient's heart has stopped
beating. Early defibrillation is the key to successful resuscitation.
The graph to the right shows just how rapid the chances of survival
Diminish and the role of a First Responder is to try and prevent that
happening
and the chance of survival decreases by between 7 and 10%
with each minute that passes when a patient's heart has stopped
beating. Early defibrillation is the key to successful resuscitation.
The graph to the right shows just how rapid the chances of survival
Diminish and the role of a First Responder is to try and prevent that
happening
The Community First Responders are asked to
attend ‘Category A’ emergency calls which involve
patients suffering from Chest Pains, Breathing Difficulties,
Collapse and Unconsciousness. They are not however
called to ‘trauma’ incidents such as road traffic accidents
or emergencies involving young children or calls which may
involve violence or disorder.
attend ‘Category A’ emergency calls which involve
patients suffering from Chest Pains, Breathing Difficulties,
Collapse and Unconsciousness. They are not however
called to ‘trauma’ incidents such as road traffic accidents
or emergencies involving young children or calls which may
involve violence or disorder.
You may see our cars out in the vale when our volunteers are on call. If we are
attending a call then we will normally drive with our headlights on, even in daylight.
Even though we are attending what is potentially a life threatening situation, we do
not have the privileges of blue lights and we are obliged to drive lawfully and safely at
all times - the Ambulance service already have one emergency to attend, we don’t want
to create another.
If you see one of our cars with it’s headlights on, then we may well be on our way to a
call. All we ask is that you please recognise that, drive courteously and if there is a
safe opportunity to let us pass then you give us the space to do so.
attending a call then we will normally drive with our headlights on, even in daylight.
Even though we are attending what is potentially a life threatening situation, we do
not have the privileges of blue lights and we are obliged to drive lawfully and safely at
all times - the Ambulance service already have one emergency to attend, we don’t want
to create another.
If you see one of our cars with it’s headlights on, then we may well be on our way to a
call. All we ask is that you please recognise that, drive courteously and if there is a
safe opportunity to let us pass then you give us the space to do so.
