Community First Responders

Little Horkesley Parish Council were delighted to welcome Tracy Le Grys to speak at the September meeting on the role of Community First Responders and the need for volunteers.

Tracy lives in Little Horkesley and joined the First Responder Team five years ago, becoming the coordinator in 2017.

Tracy joined after her Mother-in-Law had a fall at home and had to wait for over an hour for an ambulance to attend, due to pressure on the emergency services. Tracy decided to research what she could do to help the community in such situations and was immediately drawn to becoming a First Responder.

A Community First Responder provides emergency treatment to people in their local area. They are dispatched by the NHS ambulance service to certain types of medical emergencies in their local area. Their role is to help stabilise the patient and provide the appropriate care until the more highly skilled ambulance crew arrives on scene to take over the treatment.

Community First Responders do not need any previous experience, as full training in basic first aid and life saving skills is provided at a cost of £30.

Tracy chooses hours to fit with her lifestyle and has made many friends in the process, as well has having the satisfaction of knowing she has helped many local residents at their time of need.

Currently there are only two volunteers in the Nayland Team, which covers Little Horkesley, Nayland, Stoke by Nayland and Great Horkesley.

The team are looking for more volunteers so they can provide as much cover in the local area as possible.

Would you be interested in joining the team, or do you know anyone who may be?

If so, please contact Tracy Le Grys on 01206 271 553 or visit www.eastamb.nhs.uk

Poster detailing the job of First Responder