Community first responders ready if emergency strikes

Jordan Cronshaw and Mark Dingle are ready to grab their medical kits at any time of day or night, when the call for help is for anything from a heart attack to broken bones.

But they give their services for free, as community first responders, an integral part of the South East Coast Ambulance Service.

Both living in Angmering, they cover their own village, as well as East Preston and Rustington, and sometimes Littlehampton.

Jordan, 20, of Foxdale Drive, joined the volunteer scheme 18 months ago and Mark, 21, of Lloyd Goring Close, started in January. They are hoping to recruit more help by raising awareness of community first responders.

“We book on when we are available and we are alerted by text message on a phone provided by the ambulance service. On average, it’s about 10 times a month.

“Living on the spot, we can get to emergencies more quickly than the ambulance itself or paramedics. We are not there to replace them, but as an add-on. When they arrive, they take over from us, but before then we can give patients the first aid they need. We really enjoy helping others, helping to save lives. It’s very satisfying and worthwhile,” said Jordan.

He has been a volunteer with the British Red Cross since the age of 13, as a first-aider and member of the charity’s ambulance reserve. He works for a private ambulance service company, providing cover for film and television locations. Mark is a door supervisor.

Both were given full training by the ambulance service for their community first responder role and each has a medical bag containing a defibrillator for administering an electric shock to a heart attack victim, as well as other equipment.

They are also launching a fund-raising drive to purchase more kit for the service, and would like to hear from any businesses who would be interested in sponsorship, perhaps in exchange for having their company logo on the responders’ jackets.

Anyone who would like to find out more about becoming a community first responder or about sponsoring the service should e-mail [email protected]