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Visit the charity's profileThe South Western Ambulance Charity is asking for help to raise £31,600 for their Cornwall Community First Responder Car Appeal.
The aim is to buy a car that will be converted, sign-written and fully equipped for use by volunteer Community First Responders (CFRs) to support patients across Cornwall at times of health emergency.
Community First Responders (CFRs) volunteer in their communities, often providing early lifesaving emergency aid ahead of ambulance arrival. They can book on at any time of day or night to help reach patients most in need. Their contributions really do save lives, reduce pain and provide reassurance to patients and their families.
In Cornwall, 127 dedicated CFR volunteers operate from 73 locations across the County and respond to over 2,000 calls for support each year.
Volunteer CFRs are recruited, trained and managed by the South Western Ambulance Service. They get a baseline of kit, equipment and uniform and they generally use their own cars to respond to calls.
Data from one week in December 2023, from the South Western Ambulance Service, shows that volunteer CFRs attending the most serious (Category 1) calls in Cornwall contributed an average of over 2 minutes to the overall response time.
Trials have shown that having access to a dedicated, sign-written, fully equipped car for Community First Responders (CFRs) makes a hugely positive impact on patients experiencing health emergencies.
A dedicated CFR car;
- increases the number of hours that CFRs volunteer
- increases the number of patients that CFRs support
- enables more patients to be supported more quickly
- reduces the time to find patients for both CFRs and ambulance service
- boosts awareness of volunteer CFRs and boosts CFR recruitment
- helps reduce the pressure on the South Western Ambulance Service, freeing up more resources to attend the most serious, Category 1, calls.
The car will be converted to meet CFR needs including adding further lighting, load guards and bespoke telecommunications. Equipment will include a full medical kit bag, a defibrillator, oxygen and a Raizer Lifting Chair that can be used to help vulnerable people who have had a fall, are uninjured, but are unable to get up.
Volunteer Community First Responder Alexander from Dorset has used a sign-written Dacia Duster car and said: “These cars have added a completely new dimension to how we can support our front-line colleagues and therefore our communities.”
A South Western Ambulance Service crew member said: “We don’t have to search for the house when you’re there. It saves time – we can see the CFR Car from miles away!”
Any donation you can give or fundraising activity you can organise, will really make a big difference. Don't forget to aid Gift Aid if you are a UK tax-payer so we can add 25p to every £1 donated.
With the support of local people we aim to have this car in action in Cornwall in 2024.
THANK YOU.
If the total amount raised through this campaign is not enough to reach (or is more than) our target, funds will be used to support initiatives that help develop Community Resilience to Health Emergencies in Cornwall.
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