Why do we need Community Responder Schemes?

Dr Richard Cummins, from Seattle, USA discovered that if a series of events took place in a set sequence, a heart attack victim has a greater chance of survival. These events are known as the “Chain of Survival”.

· Early Recognition
· Early Access
· Early Resuscitation
· Early Defibrillation
· Early Advanced Life Support

When put into practice by increasing public awareness, training in basic life support and community based Automated External Defibrillators, these events have improved the pre hospital survival rate to between 25% and 30%.

The East of England Ambulance NHS Trust believes that by introducing a scheme where Community Responders are trained in providing the first three events in the chain, there would be a significant improvement in the chance of survival.

The Concept of a Community Responder Scheme

A Responder Scheme is made up of groups of volunteers who, within the community in which they live or work, have been trained to attend emergency calls received by the NHS Ambulance Service, providing first aid until an emergency ambulance arrives.

The East of England Ambulance NHS Trust when looking at the Locations for Responder Groups, took the following into consideration:

· Towns or villages where it is challenging for an emergency ambulance to arrive at scene within 8 minutes – this is usually in the more rural areas of the County.

· The total number of calls received within these locations must be significant enough for training to take place, ensuring motivation of the group members and their  contribution would have a valued, significant effect on patients.

The East of England Ambulance NHS Trust will liaise with the responder group using their local knowledge to decide on what area can be responded to in less than 8 minutes.