Daniel Phipps, Group Coordinator
Contact: 0778-777-1317
Calne First Responders are a group of six volunteers who are trained by the Ambulance service and St. John to respond to either a category 1 medical emergency. Category 1 emergencies may be heart attacks, breathing difficulties, asthma, unconscious, chest pains, falls, panic attacks, angina or similar complaints.
First Responders respond to calls from the ambulance control centre.
They aim to reach patients as quickly as possible to administer valuable medication before the professionals arrive and hand over upon their arrival. The responder group is not formed to replace the services of paramedics or ambulance crews. These highly trained people are practitioners in their own right.
Calne First Responders are funded purely by voluntary contributions, monetary gifts or fund raising. To date they have received funds from: Calne Town Council (£1,500), Calne Lions (£4,000) and a donation of £20 from The Black Horse Public House, Cherhill from their collection box.
The equipment required to run the service for Calne residents consists of two mobile phones, two defibrillators, two kit bags, containing oxygen cylinders and general first aid supplies. First Responders are re-examined every six months as to competency and re-validated for service.
Looking to the near future Calne First Responders are intending to train and qualify as blue light drivers, and have their own emergency vehicle. They are looking for sponsors to help them purchase a vehicle and help pay for training of £2,500 per person.
The volunteers were incorporated as the Calne responders group in May 2006 and went active around 20th May 2006. From then until 12th November 2006 the two initial members have responded to 33 call outs. They now have four newly trained members who, when all the clearances have been made will become active and give Calne a much better service for the community. The maximum amount of hours reached so far is 200hrs of free service to the town. This is hoped to increase when new members come online. It is hoped to have at least 12 members within the community and encourage anyone interested to contact them initially on calne999@yahoo.co.uk for further details.
