WANTED: "Extra pair of hands" to help Ambulance crews

Friday 12 October 2018

To help deal with the highest number of emergency call-outs in recent years, Jersey's Ambulance Service is looking for islanders to help them provide lifesaving first aid.

They're searching for people willing to become 'Community First Responders' for four hours per week - a job that would see them first on the scene to administer CPR in cases where a few minutes' delay could have devastating consequences for a casualty.

The scheme has actually been in place for the last four years but never took off properly, but is now being relaunched amid busy times for the Ambulance Service, which last year handled more than 9,000 calls, averaging 25 a day.

While the service answers 68% of life-threatening emergencies within eight minutes, Training and Development Officer Janet Davison says that if the crew are tied up on another emergency, or driving from town to St. Ouen, it can sometimes take longer.

In addition, although there are around 45 public defibrillator sites in Jersey, Ms Davison says islanders are still to scared to use them. CPR-trained first responders would be trained in this, and be on site before the crew arrives, helping start treatment as soon as possible.

Pictured: The Community First Responders will receive first aid, and basic life support training.

"We are getting busier without a doubt, our calls have gone up. We will be recruiting more people next year but this scheme is in no way at all to replace the Ambulance Service. It's not a tick box exercise, it's about getting the treatment started as soon as possible," Ms Davison explained.

"In the case of cardiac arrests, a few minutes can make the difference between life and death. Immediate CPR is vital for a patient whose heart has stopped beating as brain cells begin to die after three minutes and heart muscle after eight minutes. Having someone ready to start treatment means that there is a friendly face that can take control of an incident. It's something comforting to have."

The First Responders could also be sent to other situations such as someone having breathing difficulties or being unconscious or help by providing reassurance until the ambulance arrives. Ms Davison is however adamant they would never been sent to situations involving children or trauma, or anywhere where they would be put in danger.

Jersey's adoption of the initiative, which they hope will see six people recruited in each parish, follows the UK. Candidates have to be at least 18 and each willing to give at least four hours of their time every week. No previous training is required, as the Ambulance Service will provide first aid and basic life-support training. All candidates will also undergo a DBS check. 

Video: The app used to communicate with first responders.

Communication with first responders happens via the 'Good Sam' app through which the ambulance service send out a notification to see who is available.

"We previously didn't have the communications system in place to mobilise and dispatch the CTFs," Ms Davison said. Thanks to the app we don't need to physically log-in in the control room as in the past - the app shows where the nearest person is."

Those interested in learning more about the scheme are invited to join the Ambulance Service on Tuesday at Brook Street and Les Quennevais Sports Centre between 09:30 and 16:00, coinciding with Restart a Heart Day, which encourages them to learn the basic skills of CPR.