Firefighters trained as First Responders

Fire stations from 3 counties, including Berkshire, involved in trial

FIRE stations from three counties – including Berkshire – are involved in a trial to provide a first response to high priority medical emergencies across the Thames Valley.

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) announced on Tuesday that a trial started in mid-November involving the trust, the Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS), Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service and Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire and Rescue Service.

The trial sees fire stations providing a co-responder from Wokingham, Buckingham, Abingdon and Didcot, trained by SCAS paramedics, to provide a first response to specific medical emergencies where there is an immediate threat to life, prior to an emergency ambulance arriving on scene.

The trust points out that in cases of cardiac arrest, the chances of a person’s survival decrease by 14 per cent for every minute that passes without defibrillation.

SCAS lead community response manager Nic Morecroft said the trust was “incredibly grateful for their commitment and support”.

She said: “Having the extra response in Wokingham, Buckingham, Abingdon and Didcot will complement our already existing Community Responder Scheme and public accessible defibrillators which are also in the area helping to save more lives.”

RBFRS group manager Neil Carter said all 24 firefighters at Wokingham Fire Station had received additional training by paramedics, and had “enthusiastically embraced” the opportunity, with round-the-clock availability for the co-responding trial anticipated.