South Western Ambulance Service is recruiting volunteers to expand Falmouth's team of Community First Responders (CFRs) who are having awareness days in August so you can meet the team and learn how you could help your community.

CFRs are trained to support the ambulance service and are dispatched to a wide range of 999 emergency calls and play a vital role in helping to save people's lives. Because they respond in their local community, CFRs are often first to reach emergency scenes, are able to start lifesaving treatment, begin clinical care, and provide reassurance to patients and relatives before the arrival of an ambulance.

No previous medical training is required. SWAST currently has a whole range of volunteers who can offer some of their time to help save lives in their local community, including retirees, engineers, postal workers, and teachers.

You need:

• A full driving licence with less than 6 penalty points,
• Good interpersonal and communication skills,
• The ability to observe and accurately record details,
• The ability to take the lead and remain calm in pressured situations,
• Level of fitness to deliver cardiopulmonary resuscitation as a sole responder
• Ability to complete theoretical training to the required national academic level (level 3).

Awareness sessions help people understand the role of a first responder. (Image: South West Amulance Service)

Further information is available on the South Western Ambulance website/Community First Responders: Welcome to SWASFT - welcome (swast.nhs.uk)

Help those that need you most in your community. (Image: South West Ambulance Service)

Vacancies will be advertised from 28th August to 8th September via NHS Jobs and you will need to complete an online application form. Interviews will be between 5 and 12 October 2023.

Training is generally held over five days and this year planned dates are 15 to 17 November and 25 to 26 November 2023.

The Falmouth Group have worked hard to provide the community with this valuable role, but due to the increasing population and number of calls, they urgently need new members and are holding "Awareness Sessions" on:

• Saturday 5 August - Market on the Moor
• Thursday 10 August -Market on the Moor

If you are interested head to an awareness session to chat with the team and they can show you some of their skills, including how easy it is to provide CPR and use a defibrillator.

For further information please contact Falmouth Community First Responders: [email protected]