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April 2009 No. 346
The Stradbroke Monthly Introducing Stradbroke First Responders Stradbroke First Responders Volunteer Coordinator Nicky McDonald I qualified as a First Responder on 8th September 2008 and am also a member of St John Ambulance in Framlingham. I live in Stradbroke and at present belong to the Laxfield First Responder group to gain more experience as a responder. The Stradbroke First Responder group is being set up as most members of the Laxfield group (which currently covers Stradbroke) are up to 6 minutes away or more and already have quite a large area to cover. On top of this Stradbroke has around 600 houses and can be 20 mins or more away from the nearest Ambulance which is why a First Responder group in the village will be such an asset. Our first group of Stradbroke volunteers have now qualified as First Responders but I am keen to see more volunteers join the Stradbroke group. Although some of the group have had prior first aid training, no previous medical experience is required. All the training and support needed is provided. The equipment that all First Responder groups need costs £2,500 and we are grateful that the funds have already been raised to provide that equipment for Stradbroke, through the Stradbroke Charitable Trust, Stradbroke Parish Council and Guy McGregor, our County Councillor. If you feel that being a First Responder may be for you or you would like to chat to me about First Responders, then please contact me on: Home: 01379 384323 Mobile 07957 481445 e-mail nickyjmcdonald@googlemail.com
What is a Community First Responder? For most of the time Community Responders are rather ordinary people - living normal lives with normal jobs and normal routines. But every now and again, when a certain call comes, they become lifesavers. FACT: The number of 999 calls to the ambulance service in Suffolk has more than doubled over the past decade. FACT: Every minute lost in getting to cardiac arrest patients gives them a 10per cent less chance of survival. FACT: You can make a difference. Community Responders are volunteers called to 999 emergencies when they can reach the scene quicker than ambulance crews. They usually arrive five to six minutes earlier, and give first aid until the crew arrives - often saving lives. Responders will go out to life-threatening emergencies near their homes including heart attacks, chest pains, cardiac arrests, fits and breathing problems, but not to dangerous situations like road accidents/fights or childbirth. They are trained in a number of first aid procedures but have particular success with heart attack and cardiac arrest patients. For example, when people have a heart attack in the home environment, or at work, the national survival rate is around 5%. Data shows that due to Community Responder schemes, here in Suffolk the figure is around 16%. Responders give as much or as little time as they want. The biggest commitment we ask is to go on a training weekend. The biggest fears of volunteers are that they will make patients worse, and they don't know what they are going out to, but it's not difficult and new recruits get ‘buddied up’ with someone with experience. Stradbroke Cricket Club Proudly presents
Easter Music Marathon! with MARTY’S MIGHTY GO GO ROADSHOW Queen’s Head Inn, Stradbroke On Friday 10th, Saturday 11th, Sunday 12th, Monday 13th April from Noon to Midnight Choose your favourite song from 4000 vinyl singles 2 requests for £1 All Proceeds split 50/50 between the Cricket Club and the East Anglian Air Ambulance Also listen LIVE on the Internet (PayPal facilities) Visit Stradbroke Village website at www.stradbroke.org.uk