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For further information about Allendale First Responders, please contact: 07975696411

Allen Valley First Responders - News Page

January 2008

FIRST RESPONDERS CELEBRATE WINNING VILLAGE OF THE YEAR!

Allen Valley First Responders contacted the Pulse to let us know that Allendale won the Calor ‘Village of the Year’.

The Allen Valley First Responders played a big part by having a stand with their equipment on display and answered any questions that the judges threw at them.All organizations who were involved in achieving the award for Allendale were asked to decorate a Christmas tree. The Christmas tree’s were decorated to show what their role in the community was. The Allen Valley First Responders tree, which was in pride of place behind the altar, consisted of 34 red hearts, one for every call out in 2007. In addition green crosses and gift boxes were added to illustrate colour of the First Responder logo and to show the gift of life. Sue Armstrong of the Allen Valley First Responders said: “We are proud of what we do for the Allen Valleys and are receiving more recognition in the community. “The area we cover is very rural and in some places very remote. It can be a challenge finding properties but we seem to manage and our average response time is just over 6 minutes. “The life of a first responder can be very rewarding but also humorous, especially getting a shout whilst in the middle of a shower or trying to find certain parts of clothing in the middle of the night, hurray for overalls. However we wouldn’t have it any other way!”

Congratulations to Allendale for winning the Calor Village of the Year and thank you to all the First Responders for their contribution to the community.

October 2007

Chairman Retires

It is with great sadness that I find that I have come to the end of my year as Chair of the Allen Valley First Responders. As some may be aware, my family and I moved back to the South West of England in April this year and thus, it is realistically impracticable for me to continue holding the position.

I take this opportunity to thank all those First Responders and the Support Team (past and present) for their hard work and dedication to this very worthwhile cause. I wish you all the very best for the future and I am confident that Allen Valley First Responders will continue to move onwards and upwards as the following year progresses.

Henry S Hobson

June 2007

Chairman's Report (Edited)

Introduction

Since the reformation of the AVFR Group in September 2006 (10 months) we have managed to provide 24/7 cover with a minimum of two available Responders including at least one FPOS qualified Responder available at all times, with the exception of a total period of 11 hours over the entire period when only one Responder was available. At no time during this 10 month period have we been unable to provide any cover at all. An achievement that I think we should be extremely proud of and one for which I would personally like to thank all those of you who have made it possible.

In more detail, we have responded to a total of 24 emergency calls of which 18 have been category ‘A’ and 6 have been Category ‘B’. Unfortunately, but as is to be expected by the very nature of our work, we have encountered two sudden deaths where patients had died a considerable time prior to our arrival ‘on scene’. In all other cases a ‘Live’ patient has been handed over to NEAS Crews.

Our average response time for the period has been approximately 6.29 minutes, which when the geography of the local area is taken into consideration, is also something that we should be very pleased with. Again, a massive thank you to everyone involved.

Communications

As is clearly demonstrated by the unbroken period of 24/7 cover provided and our extremely satisfactory response times, the current call handling system undoubtedly works. The advantages of no longer requiring our First Responders to have to commit in advance and then effectively undergo house arrest during the periods that they are on call has clearly paid dividends. In addition the consistency of having a single point of contact has enabled a rapport to slowly build between the NEAS Control and AVFR.

As you are aware, we are currently looking for a volunteer to take over the Call Handling responsibility on a full time basis. As the current system works so effectively, I would strongly discourage any change in its present method of operation.

Protective Clothing & Equipment

Since the introduction of our new ‘protective’ overalls and associated insignia a number of positive and complimentary remarks have been passed by Ambulance Crews, Patients, Relatives and members of the Local Community, in respect of the professional image that AVFR now portrays. In addition, and from my own experience of attending incidents in the centre of Allendale, I believe that the adoption of such ‘Hi Viz’ protective clothing has without doubt, as intended, increased our profile within the local community and that in turn has encouraged a significant increase in moral and financial support.

Our recent substantial investment in various equipment has enabled us to provide a more effective and comprehensive level of cover to the community. The introduction of Oxygen Therapy Units including Pulse- Oximeters and the related additional training provided to the whole AVFR team has certainly proved advantageous to the patients that we have attended.

Thankfully, to-date we have not had to call on the use of our Entonox equipment. It may therefore be argued that the purchase of this equipment was a mistake. However, I firmly believe that it would be unfair and undesirable to have a trained First Responder attend an incident where such equipment was required and beneficial to the patient but was unavailable. I would be most surprised if such a requirement and the use of this facility is not proven within the next few months.

In recent weeks expenditure has been made on obtaining replacement AED batteries and Electrode Pads. As I understand it, our AED equipment is therefore serviceable and up to-date.

Recruitment – V - Resignations

AVFR are currently successfully operating with seven active members of the team, of whom three are qualified to FPOS (Intermediate) standard.

It is fair to say that some members of the AVFR Team provide a substantially greater level of cover than others. However, lest we should forget, we are volunteers with our own busy lives to lead and therefore no criticism should be levelled at any one individual in respect of the hours of cover that they may or may not be able to provide. ANY and ALL time spent on call is equally valued. For this reason I no longer keep a record of individual team members’ hours.

Since reformation of the AVFR we have successfully recruited two valuable, and now active, First Responders to the team. Unfortunately however, in the last month (Name ) has resigned.

I believe that the number of recruits could have been further enhanced had it not been for the difficulties that we have experienced in respect of the failure to be able to provide more rapid basic training which I know has resulted in prospective recruits losing interest. In addition, I believe that it is important for us to be able to offer our team further and more advanced training for those members that wish to progress and develop their skills to FPOS or equivalent standards – a matter that I hope is now in hand and being taken seriously by NEAS as detailed below.

Training

AED – Basic Training

Following my recent conversations with NEAS it is apparent that Steve Thompson is currently engaged on training duties for the Ambulance Service that have effectively, albeit temporarily, taken him out of the First Responder system due to lack of time. However, it has been agreed that anyone wishing to join our team or who is still requiring the basic AED training can now be trained as soon as we are able to provide convenient dates. This training consists of a four hour package that can be delivered in one session either during the day or in the evening.

Looking to the future, NEAS believe, and I agree, that each Responder Group should be able to administer its own basic training and provide for the required 90 day AED re-qualifications – providing that such training is delivered in accordance with NEAS current protocols. I believe that it is imperative that we do not revert to a system in which there are a number of FR Groups being trained ‘in house’ by their own members to varying different standards and practices that may conflict with NEAS protocols. Remember our insurance cover will only be good under scrutiny if we have followed NEAS protocols to the letter.

To this end, Steve Thompson and the Service Training Department are currently finalising a ‘Train the Trainer’ package that will be made available to a nominated individual/s from each First Responder Group. However, due to Steve’s present hefty commitments as described above, it is not clear how long this is actually going to take to come to fruition.

A viable, acceptable and more rapid alternative is that by which any member of our existing team (or indeed another specifically recruited non-operational volunteer from the community) who already has recognised teaching qualifications can deliver the basic training and conduct re-qualifications on completion of a simple assessment by NEAS. If we can identify such a volunteer either from within our own ranks or from the local community, NEAS will be happy to arrange an assessment and the necessary authorisation almost immediately.

FPOS

As I am sure the majority of you are aware, I have been pressing NEAS to provide a further FPOS training course. I am now advised that due to the costs involved in the registration of successful candidates with the IHCD (30.00 per head), this qualification is no longer available.

I am, however, informed that the Service Training Department is currently in the process of compiling their own qualification (Basic Trauma Life Support – BTLS) that will be accredited by NEAS and will effectively be to the same level of competency as FPOS. I understand that the Service Training Department should have completed their work by the end of July this year and that dates for training will be made available shortly thereafter. I will continue to monitor progress and move for the earliest training courses available.

Conclusion

The next few months will, I hope, see resolution of the few remaining issues that we have regarding training. In future I believe that this will assist in the effective recruitment of volunteers and the retention of existing members of our team.

It is my opinion that the last 10 months have proved to be decisive in the continued and ongoing success of the Allen Valley First Responder Group. There is no doubt that without the effort and dedication of both the active First Responders and those that have assisted them in supporting roles, that AVFR would have met its demise in the autumn of 2006. There can also be no doubt that we have provided a worthwhile service to the Patients (and in many cases their relatives) that we have attended and to the community as a whole. Notwithstanding any benefit to NEAS, the Allen Valley now has a viable, reliable, professional and dedicated voluntary organisation of which it can and should be extremely proud.

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Allendale Fair - Saturday 2nd June

Allen Valley First Responders are running a Tombola during the course of the above event. Please come and support us. In addition we will be providing cover (In addition to our normal standby) for the duration of the Fair as well as for the Allen Valley Striders 8 mile run which starts at 2pm.

May 2007

Fund Raising - Celieh in Catton

Following the success of the Celieh held in March a further event for AVFR is being held this Saturday 5th May 2007 at Catton Village Hall at 7.30 PM (tickets £5 at the door). All are welcome, please come and support us.

Monthly Meetings

AVFR are now holding regular monthly training evenings for active responders. In addition this enables discussion of any pressing operational matters and allows time for the team to get together regularly as a group. These meetings take place at 7pm on the last THURSDAY of every month and are held at Burnlaw. If you are interested in coming along to find out more about what we do, please call 07817 107 129

April 2007

Celieh A Success

THE excellent Celieh last weekend helped raise some cash for the First Responders, but the main thing was the support of the community and the goodwill that was engendered by the lovely evening in Allendale village hall.

March 2007

Fund Raising - Celieh in Allendale

AVFR are holding a Celieh on Saturday 7th April 2007 in order to raise funds for further equipment. Tickets are now available so please support this event. For further details and tickets please call us on 01434 618525

October 2006

Allendale Show

Allen Valley First Responders were on-hand at the above event and had a stall to promote awareness of the voluntary work that we undertake and recruit new members to the team. We were joined by the local Community Paramedic and the new style vehicle that NEAS are now equipping the Community Paramedics with - a treatment room on wheels !

PRESS RELEASE

Community First Responders deliver a new level of service for the Allen Valleys

Last week saw the Community First Responder group in Allendale taking a big step forward in the voluntary service it is providing to the community.

Since the beginning of the summer, when the continuation of the group was actually in some doubt, the organisation has undergone a significant transformation. Whilst the number of trained responders is still limited, a new procedure has overcome communications problems and made the on-call system easier to administrate and, with the support of the North East Ambulance Service, the group have extended the equipment they are carrying and the range of 999 emergencies they are able to respond to.

A recently completed week-long training course, held in Allendale and provided by the North East Ambulance Service, saw five First Responders (including a Responder from the Bellingham FR group) qualifying to the FPOS (First Person on Scene) intermediate standard. This is the highest level that volunteer community First Responders can currently reach in Northumberland and complements the recent investment in four thousand pounds worth of new equipment for the group, including potentially lifesaving oxygen therapy units and associated monitoring facilities.

“Where previously we were only being called out to category ‘A’ 999 calls related to suspected heart problems, we are now able and responding to category ‘A’ and ‘B’ emergencies including those to children” comments Henry Hobson, who has been operating as Allendale First Responder’s call handler. He continues “Since August we have never had less than two First Responders on duty at any one time and we’ve responded to 5 category ‘A’ calls and 1 category ‘B’, including an emergency involving a child. In each case we were at the scene within minutes and before the arrival of the Paramedic or Ambulance”.

In an exciting new development for the group, with the support of NEAS, the First Responders are now trained to work as part of the emergency medical team, continuing to provide a rapid response in the crucial few minutes before the arrival of the Ambulance Service but are now positively able to assist the Community Paramedic as soon as they arrive on scene.

Members of the Allen Valleys community are invited to attend an open evening at 7:30pm on Thursday 9^th November at St Cuthbert’s Church Hall in Allendale to show their support for the volunteers operating the service and learn more about the Community First Responder Scheme.

Henry Hobson explains; “It’s fantastic that in such a short period of time and with the dedication of the Responders and the substantial support of NEAS, our team is now better trained to deal with emergencies, but to take full advantage of our new capabilities, we need to upgrade our equipment further, so fundraising is a necessity. We are also still very limited in the geographical area our team are able to reach quickly. We currently have 7 trained responders and a further two volunteers are about to start training, but we could do with more volunteers from the Allenheads, Whitfield, Langley and Ninebanks areas who could be on-scene precious minutes earlier in a life-threatening situation. We are also keen to recruit non operational members to assist with the equally important issues of administration and fundraising”.

For further information about Allendale First Responders, please contact: 07975696411

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