Could you help save a life?

Members of Horsham Community Responders who are known as Ambulance Service Community First Responders (CFR’s) are a team of 15 trained CFR’s based in Horsham, Mannings Heath, Warnham areas and is looking to expand and set up a team within Slinfold.

Community First Responders are not a substitute for the Ambulance Service. However, because they are based within the community in which they live or work, they often get to the scene of an emergency before an ambulance arrives, enabling them to begin offering potentially life saving first aid.

If you think that this is something that you may be able to do the team is holding an open evening at The College of Richard Collyer on Tuesday 28th January starting at 7.30pm.

All potential volunteers undertake a probationary period which includes monthly training sessions, an enhanced CRB check, and finally a training course undertaken by the Ambulance Service. This is then followed with a period of time working with a mentor while they learn how to deal with various emergency medical situations which can be both rewarding, and emotionally challenging.

The scheme holds a monthly training evening (2nd Monday of every month) and also attends various community events where team members spend time demonstrating CPR, the use of an Automated External Defibrillators (AED’s) and delivering the national recognized British Heart Foundation Heartstart Course.

The Responder scheme receives limited funding and relies heavily on donations from members of the public, local businesses, or other organizations as it costs around £2000 to train and equip each team member.

For more information about the scheme please look at our website www.horshamresponders.org or on our Facebook or twitter feeds.

Report and pictures contributed by Marc Harrold, Responder Team Leader.