Rotary gift to Lifesavers

The Rotarians have been staunch supporters of Neighbourhood First Responders since the scheme for a rota of volunteers trained to use heart defibrilators was first mooted.

On Wednesday club officers were at St John Ambulance headquarters where they were shown how much essential equipment their latest 650 gift had bought.

The Neighbourhood First Responders scheme is a partnership between St John and South East Coast Ambulance Trust.

Working on a rota basis, the Responders are at readiness to turn out at the request of the ambulance service.

Being community-based, they can often get from their homes to a heart attack victim and bring their defibrilators into action to re-start the victim's heart in the vital first few minutes after cardiac arrest and before the paramedics arrive.

Bexhill's Responders receive between four and eight calls a week of which a least half result in them going into action before the arrival of SECAMB crews' arrival.

Local coordinator Mike Dean said of the Rotarians' latest gift: "The new kit-bags are a definite bonus for us. The defibrilator goes in the front compartment and the main section holds the oxygen and ancilliary equipment.

"The car stickers are magnetic and will enable us when we go out to be identified quickly.

The new reflective jackets identify the wearers."