The volunteer Five Villages First Responders (FVFR) team working alongside East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) in the local villages will soon be celebrating its 20th anniversary.
The life-saving scheme, which launched on 5th April 2004, has continued to serve the local community with the team of First Responders being called to over 3,200 medical emergencies in the last 20 years. The group responds in Misterton, Beckingham, Walkeringham, Gringley on the Hill, West Stockwith and many other locations across North Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.
Because of their location within the local community, the First Responders are dispatched by the Ambulance Service to relevant incidents following a 999 call. They can respond rapidly and give care to patients until the arrival of the ambulance, helping to improve chances of survival in emergencies such as a cardiac arrest. The responders are trained by EMAS to deal with a range of medical situations and carry a defibrillator, oxygen, airway management and monitoring equipment.
The FVFR team are holding a celebration coffee morning on Saturday 27th April, from 10.00am to 12.00pm at the Methodist Hall, High Street, Misterton DN10 4BU. This will be followed by a free public awareness session on how to perform CPR and use a defibrillator, from 12.00pm until 1.00pm.
All members of the local community are invited to go along for a hot drink and slice of cake to celebrate 20 years of this vital local voluntary organisation, as well as demonstrations and displays of the work done by your local Community First Responders.
FVFR founder and group coordinator Martyn Johnson said: “I have been privileged to lead a fantastic team of volunteer First Responders over the last 20 years.
“We continue to receive a massive amount of support from the local community, including fundraising efforts from individuals, businesses and organisations, as well as many kind words, messages and emails of encouragement and thanks for what we do. To say thank you for all your support over the last 20 years, we would like to mark this important milestone with a celebration event where members of the community can talk to our amazing volunteers about what we do.”
For further information about FVFR or the 20th anniversary celebration, visit www.fvfr.co.uk, email contact@fvfr.co.uk, see the team’s Facebook page or contact Group Coordinator Martyn Johnson on 07866 567600.