What we do

Rapid response is often vital

Community Responders are primarily called to attend “Category A” emergency calls.

These are 999 calls which the Ambulance Service deem to be “serious and/or life-threatening” needing medical help to arrive as quickly as possible - usually within the first eight minutes from the 999 call being made.

Our Responders are already living or working in the community so can often get to the call quicker. This is when lives can sometimes be saved – and it has been proved that patients’ chances of recovery are significantly increased.

“Category A” calls are usually when someone is suffering from one of the following:

·         Cardiac arrest

·         Unconsciousness and collapse

·         Chest pains (eg heart attacks or acute angina)

·         Breathing difficulties (eg asthma, acute onset of emphysema)

·         Fitting or convulsion (eg epilepsy)

·         Anaphylaxis (allergic reaction)

·         Choking

These types of calls are classed as medical emergencies and can happen to anyone anytime either at home or in a public place.

Responders can also attend “Category B” and “Category C” calls but are never called to road traffic accidents, childbirth or gynaecological issues, or calls which may involve violence or disorder.

More than 70% of sudden cardiac arrest cases happen out of hospital and another 10-15% occur at work, so it is unlikely that an ambulance will be on scene straight away.

Responders can often get to the patient quicker and give basic life-saving support until the ambulance arrives and it is in this immediate timeslot that treatment could make all the difference, especially in rural areas where it is not always possible for the ambulance to reach the patient straight away due to volume of calls, traffic hold-ups or remote locations.

SAFeR Responders carry defibrillators which can be a vital advantage when sudden
cardiac arrest strikes.

Over 110,000 people die every year in the UK from heart attacks and the chance of survival
decreases by between 7-10% with every minute that passes when a patient’s heart has
stopped beating. Early defibrillation can be the key to successful resuscitation.  

Of those who survive sudden cardiac arrests: 

·         83% survive for at least one year

·         57% survive for five years or longer

The SAFeR Scheme gives local people increased chances of a healthy future.

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Patron Sally Gunnell OBE

Sitemap This site was last updated 27-Nov-2007