Community First Responders

Welcome to the web page dedicated to the responders of South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. The Trust covers one of the most rural areas of the UK and we are committed to providing the population of the South West with the highest standard of out-of-hospital care, and are extremely grateful to the many responders who volunteer to help members of their local community.

Every day responders from across the South West attend emergencies within their local communities, making a real difference. Sometimes the difference is providing reassurance prior to the arrival of an ambulance; sometimes it is saving someone’s life. A range of responders volunteer to make that difference, including:

• Community First Responders - Volunteers who support their local community by attending emergency calls whilst an ambulance is on its way;
• Fire Co-Responders - Retained fire fighters who attend emergency calls on behalf of the Trust, as part of their day to day role with a fire and rescue service;
• RNLI Co-Responders - Life Guards who patrol beaches, and respond to local incidents;
• Establishment Based Responders - Staff who respond to an incident that may occur during their normal working date, for example in a railway stations or shopping centre;
• Staff Responders – Ambulance clinicians who volunteer to attend emergencies in their local communities whilst they are off duty.

Current recruitment locations

Avon - Thornbury, Portishead, Clevedon, Nailsea, Yatton, Chew Magna, Winterbourne, Frampton Cotterell, Yate and Pucklechurch.

Cornwall -

Devon -

Dorset -

Gloucestershire - Bourton-on-the-Water, Stow-on-the-Wold and Fairford.

Wiltshire - Melksham, Westbury, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Highworth, Corsham, Pewsey, Tidworth, Ludgershall and Warminster.

If you would like to support your local community and make it a safer place to live, please get in touch. You can contact the CFR Administrator on 0117 9280 485.

What kind of emergencies do CFRs attend?

CFRs attend particular types of medical emergencies where it is essential for the patient to receive immediate life-saving care. This includes conditions such as:

• cardiac arrest
• chest pain
• breathing difficulties
• unconscious patients
• fitting
• stroke

CFRs are not sent to many other particular types of incidents, including:

• road traffic collisions
• other incidents involving traumatic injuries
• incidents involving children

You do not need any previous medical training to become a CFR. SWASFT currently has a whole host of people available to save lives in their local community, including nurses, engineers, postal workers and teachers. You do need:

• a full driving licence
• good interpersonal and communication skills
• the ability to observe and accurately record details
• the ability to take the lead and remain calm in pressured situations

What does the application process involve?

When you apply to become a CFR, you complete:

• an application form
• a health check form, which is posted directly to our doctor
• a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) form

You will then be invited for interview, and will be asked to bring along the CRB form. You will be told at the interview if you have been successful – subject to the CRB check.

Once that check comes back, your training is booked – and is available at weekends or during the week to suit you. You will receive four days’ training over a period, covering

• patient assessment
• respiration and airway management
• basic life support
• defibrillation
• circulation and shock
• medical related emergencies
• trauma related emergencies
• the pre-hospital environment

From first application to training can take up to three months, depending on the speed of response from the CRB. You will also ride out as an observer with an ambulance crew to gain a better understanding of the role.

It is important to remember that attending people in critical, life-threatening situation can be upsetting. However, the GWAS network makes sure there is someone to help 24 hours a day.

How can I find out more?

If you live in the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust area and would like to know more about becoming a community first responder at work or from home please contact us on: 0117 928 0485.