A brand-new cohort of Community First Responders (CFRs) participated in two learning sessions and an exam as part of the course last month.

Our CFRs operate across the whole of the North West of England in both rural and urban areas and are a crucial part of the Chain of Survival. Volunteers attend appropriate emergency calls and provide immediate medical treatment to a patient before an ambulance arrives.

While we have always trained CFRs before they’re deployed, the new qualification provides a new standardised curriculum and brings us in line with a number of other ambulance trusts.

Participants will receive an FAQ Level 3 Award for First Responders on the Scene. It is specifically designed for people who intend to work as community responders. The course covers the principles of ambulance service first responder care. Providing the knowledge and skills relating to scene safety and patient assessment, life-threatening emergencies, illnesses, medical conditions and injuries.

Mark Evans, NWAS Community Engagement Lead, says, “The qualification allows us to apply a consistent approach to the curriculum, in line with an agreed national standard. It also allows our volunteers to prove their skills and use them elsewhere if they wish. Previously, training was not transferable, and volunteers would have to undergo fresh instruction before taking on similar roles.”

The new training scheme will initially focus on new recruits before being offered to existing CFRs in the coming months.