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COMMUNITY NEWS
JUNE 2019
You must be joking!!! 11 Gaol Lane, Sudbury
01787 883900
Not Superheroes...Just Volunteers! Community First Responders (CFR’s) are not a new phenomena, some of us in Sudbury have been around for 12 years. However, many people in the street and even those who have had us arrive at their front door with our enormous bags are not exactly sure of our role. So, who are we? What do we do? And why do we do it? Firstly, let’s be clear....we are not Superheroes. We are your neighbours. We do not have a ‘Batcape’, but we do wear ‘hi vis’ jackets. We do not have super powers, but ZH GR FDUU\ DQG XVH D GHÂżEULOODWRU RU $(' Âą $XWRPDWHG ([WHUQDO 'HÂżEULOODWRU :H FDQQRW VDYH WKH :RUOG EXW ZH can save a life! We are local people from all walks of life, aged from 21 to 68, who have chosen to give up some of our free time to volunteer as Community Responders for the Ambulance Service. We have all heard about the pressures on ambulance personnel to meet time targets and in a rural community where our nearest hospital is 15 minutes away on blue lights, it is frequently impossible for them to arrive in under 8 minutes. And that is where we step in with our kit bags and training, to offer reassurance and emergency First Aid treatment, record observations and monitor the casualty until the ambulance arrives. In our day to day existence some of us have a medical background; Paediatric Physiotherapist, Nursing Assistant, Principal of a First Aid Unit, but others work in varied occupations such as Production Supervisor, 3ULPDU\ 7HDFKHU DQG (PHUJHQF\ 3ODQQLQJ &RQVXOWDQW Some medical knowledge and experience can be KHOSIXO EXW IXOO WUDLQLQJ LV JLYHQ VR LW LV GHÂżQLWHO\ QRW
a requirement. It is far more important to be the sort of person who can deal with the unexpected, be adaptable, not panic, communicate well, be willing to learn and follow training protocols. This may explain the varied hobbies and interests we all have including: astronomy, gardening, kayaking, dog walking, running, Zumba, church and faith based activities, reading, Italian, Scouts, Royal British Legion, swimming and other voluntary groups and of course, our families. So we are a busy bunch but try to buy out a little time from other things to give something back to our community, at a time when they need us most. We have a monthly training meeting to keep our skills in good working order and up to date. We are also required to take an annual assessment in CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and other First Aid protocols. In between times, we offer as much or as little time as we have free, to be on call to the (PHUJHQF\ URRP RI (($67 (DVW RI (QJODQG Ambulance Service NHS Trust). We are supplied with a special radio for contact and a mobile phone, along ZLWK WKH )LUVW $LG NLW DQG GHÂżEULOODWRU :H XVH RXU RZQ vehicles and pay our own petrol expenses. But we do get that nifty ‘hi vis’ jacket! We also have a brilliant back up team who organise rotas and fund raising events and support any public First Aid demonstrations we may organise. So why would we bother to do all this at our own expense and in our own time? Well, it’s true that some of us just can’t resist a challenge and others are FRQYLQFHG WKDW Ă€XRUHVFHQW \HOORZ ORRNV JRRG ZLWK WKHLU
skin tone, but for all of us in a recent survey, the number one motivation was the desire to help and support people at what may well be the worst moment of their lives. We feel a huge sense of satisfaction in being there to offer assistance and comfort and sometimes...to save a life. As time has passed by our members have changed. Some have remained clocking up the years, others have gone on to other things or moved away. Several have changed career and entered the ambulance service. What about you? Much has been documented lately DERXW WKH PHQWDO DQG HPRWLRQDO EHQH¿WV RI YROXQWHHULQJ and participating in community projects. If you are willing to give your time and are prepared for the buzz of the frontline or eager to offer your talents to our backroom team, then we would be happy to have you join us. Please contact the Sudbury CFR’s via the email DGGUHVV VXSSRUW#VXGEXU\¿UVWUHVSRQGHUV FR XN Who knows, you too could be saving lives in your spare time! Vivien Ashton
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