Highley Community First Responders get dedicated 4x4 vehicle
West Midlands Ambulance Service volunteer Community First Responders from Highley, near Bridgnorth, have taken delivery of a dedicated vehicle with which to respond to their patients.
Thanks to the fundraising efforts and generosity of the villagers of Highley and surrounding area, the First Responder group have been able to purchase a four wheel drive Toyota Rav 4 to transport them to emergency calls.
West Midlands Ambulance Service has provided a digital Airwave radio, which is found in all West Midlands Ambulance Service vehicles. The radio will allow CFRs to have direct communication with the ambulance service’s Emergency Operations Centre (control room) and other ambulance crews. The radio will also track the location of the vehicle it is in, so when a 999 call is received within its local area, a CFR can be sent quickly to the scene.
Chairman of the Highley First Responders, Dave Fulton, explained: "A benefit of owning a dedicated scheme vehicle is direct radio communication with ambulance control, ensuring the volunteers are made aware of emergencies in their area at the earliest moment. Further to this, the four wheel drive capability of the vehicle will be useful in both extreme weather and the rural terrain of the area. Additionally, because the vehicle will carry all of the necessary equipment in one place, this will reduce the amount of duplicated equipment carried by each individual volunteer, which currently has to be maintained and replenished at the expense of the scheme funds On behalf of the Highley First Responder scheme, I would like to express sincere gratitude and appreciation, for the continued support given to the volunteers by the community they serve.”
CFR co-ordinator for Bridgnorth district, Ian Thompson, added "It is testament to how well thought of and appreciated they are by their community, that the Highley volunteers have received such support over the years. Indeed, it is fair to say that this appreciation is reflected in other CFR schemes right across the county too".
Highley First Responders were one of the first Community First Responder Schemes to become operational in Shropshire, and have recently celebrated their tenth anniversary. Eight volunteers in Highley currently make themselves available to West Midlands Ambulance Service on a rota basis, providing a high level of cover each week. Each Community First Responder is trained to a nationally recognised standard, to attend emergency calls prior to the arrival of an ambulance resource. Additional volunteers are being recruited across Bridgnorth district, and interested parties are invited to contact the CFR administration office on 01743 273677.
