Do you want to make a difference and give something back to the people in your local community when they might need you the most? Well, you could do just that – by providing emergency life-saving skills.

Community First Responders are volunteers who are trained and equipped by the ambulance service to answer certain types of medical emergencies in their local communities while the ambulance is on its way. There is good evidence to suggest that if there is a First Responder available to help someone before the ambulance arrives, more lives are saved. These precious first seconds and minutes can make all the difference the patient’s well being.

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the UK’s single biggest killer. On average, 150,000 people die from a SCA every year. Every minute that passes after someone has suffered SCA means that the chance of a successful resuscitation reduces by ten per cent. The national average chance of survival from SCA is four per cent. In areas where this is an active Community First Responder scheme, survival rates are much higher.

When the ambulance service receives a 999 call in an area where there is a volunteer responder available, the responder is alerted, meaning that help is on the way within seconds of a 999 call being made. The initial training to become a First Responder is conducted over two days, normally a weekend, and gives the responder the skills they need to help people in urgent need of medical attention.

Ian Jones, the local Community Responder Officer, said: “We hold monthly update and refresher training sessions at both Oxford and Didcot. We also arrange for you to spend a shift with an ambulance crew as an observer.”

Most responder schemes work in groups with a volunteer co-ordinator to arrange an “on call” rota, so that all the responders within that scheme do as much time on call as they wish. However, there is no obligation for the volunteer responder to attend any incident, and there are no minimum requirements for being on call. It is entirely up to you how much time you give.” All you need to join is to be over 18, have a full driving licence, pass an enhanced criminal records check, and be willing and able to give up some free time to help your community. Volunteers are needed throughout Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire, including Wallingford and the surrounding villages. You can either volunteer to become a responder, or to assist in fund raising and profile rising throughout the region.

If you would to help in this literally life-saving project – contact Ian Jones on 07791 561998 or by e-mail to ian.jones@scas.nhs.uk

If you are interested in contributing to this column email voluntaryvoice@ocva.org.uk