NEWPORT, CHEPSTOW
&
CALDICOT
WALES
FIRST RESPONDERS
GROUP


South Wales has historically one of the highest rates of heart attacks in Europe and research shows up to 70% of heart attack victims receive no first aid or treatment until an ambulance arrives. Across Wales and the UK, groups of volunteers are being trained to address this situation and are coming to the aid of local people who experience heart attacks and other life threatening events. Evidence from other areas of Wales shows that Responders can and do make a difference. Technological developments with Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) have meant Cardiac arrest victims can recieve treatment on scene by lay-responders, co-responders and health care professionals.

On May 1st 2007 Newport City First Responders became operational with 10 volunteers completing traini ng with the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust. They now work a 24 hour on-call system as often as possible covering the entire Newport area and beyond where needed.

Using the community support ethos of the Lifeboat and Mountain rescue volunteers, this urban rescue scheme covers Newport East, West and North (dividing the whole city into 3 divisions).

Using their own vehicles they are dispatched by Ambulance Control in Gwent to 999 calls in their location with the expectation they can arrive before the Paramedics, providing initial emergency treatment - this does not delay dispatch of the Ambulance to the patient. Day to day life carries on as normal until the phone rings and then they can then be dispatched to an emergency.

The Responders carry equipment including (AED), medical oxygen, suction pumps and first aid kits. The bulk of the equipment has been funded by the community itself with personal and charitable donations. The rest is replenished by the NHS.

This is the largest and one of the most active schemes in Wales, and is the only scheme in the UK that covers a whole City area. The scheme also supports the Royal Gwent and St Woolos Cardiology Fund in its Fund-raising efforts by providing medical cover at its events. The fund has been a major donor of equipment














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The Official Launch

May 1st 2008 - 1 year on, The Official Launch Event - The Gladiator Malpas Newport:

 

Left to Right: Dr Mick Colohoun - (Vice Chair, Resus Council UK & Medical Director Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust - WAST), John Wheat, (Newport East Division), Peter F Richards (Newport East Div.)

Dawn Barnett (Newport East Div.) John Duggan (Newport West Div.)

Tony Rossetti (First Responder Coordinator, Welsh Amb.Trust)

Phil J Hill, RN (Scheme Coordinator & Newport North Div.)

Glenda Meakin, Bristish Heart Foundation Regional Fund-raising representative,

Richard Sage (Newport West Div.)

Dr John Davies (Consultant Cardiologist Royal Gwent Hospital & Chair local Cardiology Fund).













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