We are volunteers for West Midlands Ambulance Service sent to 999 calls in our local community where we can arrive before an ambulance
We are sent to 999 calls within our local community and on average arrive 9 minutes before an ambulance. For life threatening situations such as when someone's heart stops every minute counts to increase their chance of survival.
COMMUNITY TRAINING
We are able, on occasion, to assist with the training of the public or groups in CPR and Defibrillator (AED) use, and have provided training to several thousand people in the Walsall Area. We have also taken part in many training events such as the International Restart a Heart day.Training is normally run in an informal way with individuals spending as much or as little time as they wish learning and practicing the skills.We are not able to provide certification for any training we do, and it should be considered familiarisation training.We are also able to give talks on the work we do to groups with an interest. We have given these talks to Lions Groups, GP Practice Patient Participation Groups and WI groups.
SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS
Surprising to most people, all Community First Response teams are completely self funded.Although the Ambulance Service provides all necessary support, training and consumables, each CFRs must raise funds to pay for their uniform, equipment and vehicles.It takes around £1500 to fully kit out a Responder, and we also have a response vehicle which costS £2000 per year to run. Fastaid Walsall therefore rely heavily upon donations from the public, and the easiest way to do this for individuals
