South West Ambulance Trust are appealing for volunteers to train to become First Responders within South Marston.

The Community First Responder scheme is made up of groups of volunteers (the CFRs) who within the community in which they live or work have been trained to attend emergency 999 calls on behalf of South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT). They provide basic care and if necessary life support until the arrival of an emergency ambulance, 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Every ambulance service in the UK works with volunteers in this way.

The role is highly rewarding and offers opportunities to meet new people and learn valuable life and lifesaving skills through the on-going training and support provided by the Trust.

This is a link to an excellent video which gives a real flavour of what we do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-ZkfbAbX3I&feature=player_detailpage

Within SWASFT’s borders, CFRs are predominantly active in the less urban areas of the region. At the moment, we aren’t recruiting for CFRs in central Swindon, but we are seeking new volunteers in a number of the Borough’s satellite towns and villages, including Highworth, Royal Wootton Bassett, Wroughton, Chiseldon, Purton and Cricklade. We already have small numbers of volunteers in some of these communities, but not nearly enough.

If you can help or would just like to learn more, please contact Dave Wilmot on david.wilmot@swast.nhs.uk or 07831100606.