Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 09/04/2010 15:30

Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service is specially adapting a highly visible vehicle as it launches a co-responder scheme on the Roseland Peninsula.

Fire co-responders are specially trained and assessed in basic life support skills, the safe use of an automatic external defibrillator, oxygen and entonox therapy and may be called upon by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust to respond to medical emergencies and offer vital life saving treatment in advance of the attending clinicians.

The scheme on the Roseland will operate in a similar way to that already working well on the Lizard peninsula. That scheme has been running since 1999 and includes co-responder trained firefighters from St.Keverne, Mullion and Helston.

Ten retained firefighters in the St Mawes area will be trained by the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust to provide additional life saving skills. They will also have access to an adapted response vehicle with specialist equipment on board including a defibrillator.

Cornwall Council member for Roseland Julian German said “This is great news for communities on the Roseland. The co-responder scheme helps people who need a fast medical response and I am pleased and reassured that our firefighters are working in partnership with South Western Ambulance Service to provide this service for our local communities. Local co-responders make an invaluable contribution towards increased patient care for those suffering a life threatening incident.”

Martyn Callow Head Community Engagement Manager for South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust commented: “Co-responders are professional trained persons and form part of the Emergency Medical System. They are called upon to support the primary emergency providers in the event of time critical emergencies and administer life saving first aid and stabilise the patient until advanced medical assistance arrives. This is a joint commitment between South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust and Cornwall Fire and Rescue service to collaborate in the provision of life saving medical care within the community and enables the emergency services to work more effectively forming a close working partnership in order to enhance patient care.”

Cornwall Council cabinet member for stronger communities Lance Kennedy said: “'This shows the continued drive by Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service to improve its service to the people of Cornwall. The policy of partnership working is part of Cornwall Council’s drive to provide the best use of public money. The scheme on the Lizard sees us responding to 15-20 emergency situations per month, so we are delighted that the scheme will be rolled out to include the Roseland. The scheme wouldn’t be possible without the support of our firefighters’ employers, who not only allow them to answer 999 fire calls, but to answer medical calls under the co-responder scheme as well. Our thanks go to them as well as to the firefighters themselves for their contribution to the safety and well being of our communities.”

Related item: http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=7142