Stockbridge Community
Responders
Contact person:
Roger Tym
01264 810363
What is the scheme?
The Community Responder Scheme for Stockbridge was established and began work in January 2007, under the auspices of what is now the South Central Ambulance Service, NHS Trust. The members of the scheme in Stockbridge are trained by the Ambulance Service and have to be re-qualified by Ambulance staff every six months.
Who does the scheme respond to:
The Scheme responds only to alerts from Ambulance Control after they have received and evaluated a 999 call (eg Responders are not called out to Road Traffic Incidents). The clinical objective is to stabilise or resuscitate a patient until such time as an ambulance response vehicle arrives on the scene. Heart attacks and strokes that are not "responded" to within a very short period of time, rapidly threaten permanent brain or heart damage - that is the role of the Responders, to get there quickly and prevent further deterioration in the patient's condition.
Equipment
The Responders carry oxygen and a defibrillator so they are able to deal with medical emergencies. They do not diagnose, and they rely on contact with "Control" for any medical advice they might need. Once an Ambulance arrives on the scene, the responders hand over responsibility to them. Their area of operation is defined roughly by a five minute driving time from the High Street.
The Scheme is provided with telephones, bleepers and oxygen, but has to purchase all other life saving equipment eg. defibrillators, masks, valves, bandages etc. Members of the community have made very generous gifts which are now held in trust by the Ambulance Service Trust exclusively for our use, and we have received a grant from the British Heart Foundation. However what we need most is a steady flow of volunteers, ideally from the younger members of the community (recommended maximum age of 75)
Want to join?
if you live in Stockbridge and wish to be trained in life-saving skills which will serve you for the rest of your lives and benefit your neighbourhood, please call Roger Tym to discuss the options.
It is up to you how much of your time you give, but even if it is only a couple of hours a week, the ambulance service will be very grateful - and so will the patients you help.