Volunteers Required for Community First Responder Schemes

20 October 2009

Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) NHS Trust is looking for community minded locals in the Selby area to join the volunteer Community First Responder scheme.

New recruits are particularly sought for existing schemes in Selby itself and the surrounding villages of Thorpe Willerby, Church Fenton and Barlby.

They are trained in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) which delivers a controlled electric shock to restart the heart.  First Responders also carry portable oxygen. 

Victoria Tansley, Community Defibrillation Trainer for YAS in North Yorkshire, said: “Community First Responders make a valuable contribution to their communities.  We know that in many medical emergencies the first few minutes are critical.  If effective treatment can be performed within those first minutes, lives can be saved and disability reduced.

“Being part of this initiative can be extremely rewarding and I would encourage anyone who may be interested in taking on the role to get in touch.”

Full training is given to successful applicants who need to be over 18, physically fit and hold a full driving licence (having never been banned from driving with no more than three penalty points). Yorkshire Ambulance Service will also run Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checks on candidates.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the Community Responder Scheme can contact Victoria Tansley at the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, tel: on 0845 120 3155, email victoria.tansley@yas.nhs.uk