Role Description: First Responder
Purpose: Working with other members of a local comunity First Responder group to provide emergency pre hospital care.
Activities:
First Responders are alerted by the ambulance service to attend patients with breathing difficulties, suspected cardic arrest, collapse or chest pain within their immediate community.
First Responders will provide Basic Life Support (BLS) in the vital few minutes before the ambulance service arrives. You may also be required to provide support and reassurance to relatives. You will work on a rota system with other members of the group and will be called out via mobile phone or text message.
Accurate reporting of incidents through patient report forms and confidentiality are an essential part of this role.
You will be provided with appropriate Health and Safety guidelines and issued with the personal protective equipment (PPE) necessary for the fulfiilment of this role.
Skills Needed:
- No previous experience is necessary as full comprehensive initial and ongoing traning will be provided.
- To join LIVES volunteers will have to successfully complete the application and induction process.
- To become a First Responder, volunteers will have to complete the LIVES training programme and attain and maintain a required level of competence.
Desirable Characteristics:
- Ability to remain calm under pressure.
- Ability to work as part of team.
Supervision, Support and Training:
Volunteers will be provided with regular group meetings which can be used to discuss problems and ideas with other group members and the Group Coordinator. On a more informal basis a volunteer may speak to thier Coordinator at time, within reason, to talk about issues or make suggestions. Volunteers can also expect support from LIVES HQ as outlined in the members handbook.
In circumstances when support cannot be provided by the Group Coordinator, volunteers have the right to contact the Local First Responder Development Officer (FRDO) or LIVES HQ to discuss any problems or make suggestions.
Regular ongoing confidence training will be provided at a local level by the Group Trainer at least every 3 months and Annual Requalification Assessment will be provided locally by the LIVES requal Assessor or at HQ by a LIVES training officer. Group Training Support Officers or the LIVES Training Officer are available to offer support and advice, or to arrange and provide additional training for any First Responder who requires it.
Arrangements for debriefing can be made with the Clinical Director or Training Officer following a distressing call.
Benefits:
- Gain experience and learn new skills.
- Be part of team.
- Benefit the community.
- Gain a sense of fulfilment and achievement.
Timeframe:
First Responder volunteers work on a rota system within local groups and are asked to give as much or as little time as they can. Volunteers are asked to meet their rota commitments as agreed within the group or to give reasonable notice so other arrangements can be made. They are also required to attend group training sessions regularly.
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