Telford Community First Responders
About Us
Telford First Responders (CFR) scheme is a life-saving partnership of volunteers working with West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) in the Telford Area. As authorised volunteers the CFRs help to reduce the number of pre-hospital deaths.
Community First Responders (CFRs) are trained to provide life-saving treatment to patients in the vital first few minutes of an emergency until an ambulance crew arrives. If effective treatment is provided quickly, lives can be saved and disability reduced. This is especially true for cardiac arrest heart attacks and medical conditions which have caused someone to lose consciousness.
When a 999 call is received in the ambulance service operations centre, an ambulance response is dispatched. At the same time, a CFR on-call in the area can be alerted and asked to attend the incident to ensure that help reaches the patient as quickly as possible.
As our volunteers are based within the community, they may only be a minute or two away from a medical emergency and very often their role is to simply provide vital reassurance to patients and their families until the ambulance crew arrives. However, in extreme cases, such as a cardiac arrest, they can perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) to try and restart someone’s heart, which can potentially save their life.
Meet our Team of Volunteers
Not yet populated
Day Job – Estates Manager
I have been a CFR since 2007 and was previously a member of St John Ambulance.
I love walking and lead walking holidays in my spare time.
I am married and live with my wife in the Lawley area of Telford, I was raised in Donnington, Telford but lived in Shrewsbury for 23 years before moving back to my home town.
As a CFR I have attended thousands of 999 calls and love being able to help people in their hour of need.
Surprising fact – I lived in Central America for a year in the 1990’s
Day Job – Management Accountant
I have always had a great interest in pre-hospital care and have a natural desire to help people so becoming a CFR was a no-brainer!
I am a total book worm and enjoy relaxing with a cup of tea and a good book.
I love walking and travelling; I have a long list of places to visit combining the two. My favourite place visited is Yosemite National Park, California where we spent days hiking, seeing some spectacular sights- including brown bears!
Surprising fact – Olives are in my top 5 favourite foods.
Day Job – Full Fibre Telecommunications Planning Manager
I qualified as a CFR in April 2021.
Born and bred in the Black Country but have lived in Horsehay for over 20 years with my wife and two grown up children.
I enjoy getting away in our camper and exploring our beautiful country.
Surprising fact – In my teenage years I was a hospital radio DJ spinning the discs!
Day Job: Technical Manager at Phoenix
My biggest passion is fundraising and I love to be able to support the Telford First Responder group.
I help manage the finances and take an active role in supporting the group at events and fundraising.
Away from my volunteer role and day job, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, travelling the world, going to the gym and going out for food & drinks.
Day job: Final year Student Physician Associate
I joined the CFR team in September 2021 but have been involved with the group supporting fundraising with my dad who is also a CFR, for many years.
In my spare time I love relaxing with my family, keeping active at the gym and travelling.
I am excited to take on this role and support my local community by responding to those who need us most.
Surprising fact - my family has a member in each of the emergency and healthcare services apart from fire!
Day Job – NSPCC Children’s Services Practitioner
I joined the CFR team in December 2020 and am really looking forward to gaining lots of experience out on the road.
I love being outdoors and enjoy walking my dog and wild swimming, though my first love is music and I have sung in a choir since I was a teenager.
I live in the Lawley area of Telford with my partner, dog and two cats. I have previously lived in Bridgnorth and grew up in a small village called Brockton, just outside of Much Wenlock.
I am excited to be able to take on this role within my local community and feel proud to be able to respond to those who need us most.
Day job: Consultant Clinical Psychologist
I qualified as a CFR in July 2021.
I have always worked for the NHS and been passionate about being able to help people where I can. However, it was my own experience of having a cardiac arrest and being saved by a quick acting passer-by performing CPR that really prompted me to become a CFR.
I am married and live in Telford with my three children and our collection of various animals!
In my spare time I really value spending time with my family, distance running, researching my family tree and looking after the various animals we have at home.
Surprising fact: I once worked as a station announcer at Reading railway station (bing bong!)
Day job: student midwife and healthcare assistant.
I have always had an interest in emergency medicine and first aid, as well as upholding a love for people and the community, so I thought I would put these two desires together to make a positive difference to those most in need by becoming a CFR and helping to save lives - something I value as so very important.
In my spare time, I love to read, cook, knit and sew, along with a variety of hand crafts, complete puzzles - sudoku is my favourite! as well as taking a long scenic walk, working on my allotment and harvesting home grown vegetables, before spending time with family.
Surprising fact : I was home educated throughout my entire school years.
I worked for 23 years in the Army before becoming involved in childcare and pre-hospital care.
I'm married with 5 children and live in the Lightmoor area of Telford.
I qualified as a CFR in Jan 22 and now look forward to being an active CFR within the community responding to emergencies.
Surprising fact - I took part in a run from John O'Groats to Lands End.
Day job: Emergency Care Technician, Accident and Emergency
I joined the CFR team in July 2021 as I have an interest in pre-hospital care.
I love the outdoors and walking whether it’s locally walking my dog or travelling further afield.
I have worked in A&E for eight years and currently still do and I have volunteered for St. John Ambulance for nearly a decade.
I have recently left St. John to be a first responder in Telford and look forward to being out and about responding.
Surprising fact: I used to be a bluecoat for Pontins.
I became a Community First Responder in April of 2022 because I enjoy helping people as well as it's a great opportunity to learn and develop myself for a possible career in the emergency services
In my free time I enjoy outdoor activities like camping, hiking and rock climbing
Suprising fact, on my days off you will often find me kayaking on the River Severn
Becoming a Community First Responder
what's involved
Recruitment to become a CFR is controlled and administered by West Midlands Ambulance Service.
Anyone who wants to help their community can become a CFR. No previous medical experience or training is necessary although you will need a caring attitude and be able to cope with potentially distressing situations.
To apply you will need to be reasonably physically fit, able to complete West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) paperwork and attend for a selection process. An enhanced DBS check will be carried out and will need to be deemed satisfactory by WMAS.
You will need to hold a full clean driving licence and be available to book on duty for at least 20 hours per month.
During the training, you can expect to learn about the anatomy and physiology of the human body and dealing with medical emergencies of all types. The training is intensive and requires a considerable amount of “self-directed learning” – as well as practical assessment and examinations, followed by periods of on-the-job training with both WMAS ambulance crews and experienced CFRs.
WMAS and Telford First Responders will advertise recruitment campaigns widely on social media and vacancies will also be advertised on NHS Jobs (https://www.jobs.nhs.uk), this site will also host the application process – this will include information about geographical areas being recruited for as well as Job and Person Specifications.
Successful applicants will be expected to complete the Level 3 FROS (First Responder on Scene) training programme delivered by WMAS Academy at Brierley Hill over 3 consecutive weekends (the course has to be completed in a single sequence but many dates will be offered to successful candidates).
Community Training
We are able, on occasion, to assist with the training of the public or groups in CPR and Defibrillator (AED) use, and have provided training to several thousand people in the Telford Area. We have also taken part in many training events such as the International Restart a Heart day.
Training is normally run in an informal way with individuals spending as much or as little time as they wish learning and practicing the skills.
We are not able to provide certification for any training we do, and it should be considered familiarisation training.
We are also able to give talks on the work we do to groups with an interest. We have given these talks to Lions Groups, GP Practice Patient Participation Groups and WI groups.
If you would like us to give a talk or training to your group please contact Nick via our contact page, in plenty of time before your event, to see if we can help.
Useful Links
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
OUR SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS
Surprising to most people, all Community First Response teams are completely self funded.
Although the Ambulance Service provides all necessary support, training and consumables, each CFRs must raise funds to pay for their uniform, equipment and vehicles.
It takes around £1500 to fully kit out a Responder, and we also have a distinctive 4×4 response vehicle which cost £20,000 to buy and equip and around £2000 per year to run.
Telford First Responders therefore rely heavily upon donations from the public, and the easiest way to do this for individuals, is via our link to the Wonderful.org website which can be accessed from the button below. This portal sends all of the money donated to us, and also allows donations to attract “Gift Aid” if you are eligible.
We are also always looking for corporate sponsors to assist in practical ways as well as financially – if you are able to assist us in this way please contact our Chair (Nick Freeman) via our contact page.
Your Support Can Help Save Lives
Donate via PayPal button below
Click on the link opposite to visit our Lottery page to support us, and maybe win.
Contact Us
You can contact us by using this form for all enquires relating to the team, its operations, training or support/donations.
Click for Links to our Sponsors:
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