Responding to a call

 

 

When the ambulance service receives a 999 call from a community where a Neighbourhood First Responder Scheme is running, which indicates a situation that is considered immediately life threatening, the on-call Neighbourhood First Responder will be contacted via mobile phone.

 

The 999 caller will be told that a Neighbourhood First Responder is on the way and that they will be backed up by an emergency ambulance as soon as possible.

 

The Neighbourhood First Responder will either walk or drive to the scene. It is anticipated that all incidents will be within six minutes traveling time wherever possible.

 

If driving is involved, it will be under the Highway Code and Neighbourhood First Responders are expected to comply with the law while driving to incidents at all times.

 

On arrival, the Neighbourhood First Responder will have all the training and equipment necessary to manage the patient in those first few critical minutes before the emergency ambulance arrives. In many cases, the Neighbourhood First Responder may not actually be required to do anything other than reassure the patient and make sure that the ambulance is able to find the location. However, we know that the Neighbourhood First Responder could save a life, for example, as a result of a simple airway open manoeuvre, defibrillation or treating choking.

 

The Neighbourhood First Responder will always be backed up by an ambulance.

 

Types Of Call

 

The types of calls which Neighbourhood First Responders will be asked to attend include;

 

Neighbourhood First Responders will not be asked to attend incidents including;