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In March 2008, 18
volunteers passed the assessments at the end of their training
provided by the Ambulance Service. The FR team did not go
operational till July that year but as we have now all again passed
our annual assessments I thought you might like to know more about
what we have been doing.
The definition of a FR
is a person trained to provide basic life support and in the use of
defibrillators to people with life-threatening conditions until the
ambulance crew arrives. Without betraying any patient
confidentiality, I can tell you that at the time of writing (mid May)
we have attended 22 patients in response to 999 calls. 13 have been
in the Lazonby area, 5 in the Kirkoswald area, 3 in the Great Salkeld
area and 1 at Glassonby. There have been 10 male patients and 12
female patients and their ages have ranged from 32 to 98. Their
problems have included angina, chest pain, cardiac arrests and severe
asthma attacks. Sadly, despite the best efforts of ourselves, the
ambulance and the air ambulance staff, three patients have died and
we extend our sympathies to their families again.
Our area covers that
part of the district which is within seven minutes driving time from
Lazonby bridge. We always arrive before the ambulance. Our best
attendance time was within two minutes of receiving the message from
the 999 control room. We care for the patient until the ambulance
arrives. Usually this is within 20 minutes but once the ambulance
came from Brough and another time the ambulance came from Silloth.
As you may know by now,
we have to find the vast majority of the running costs of the team
from sponsors as we receive little financial support from the NHS. I
would like to thank Richard Walter’s IT company, Commendium, which
has very generously donated a substantial amount so that we can buy a
defibrillator. Mrs Ruby Slee kindly donated the large collection
following the funeral of her husband, Raymond and we have also
recently received a cheque from a patient. The organisers of
Lazonby’s Got Talent generously shared their proceeds with us and
other local charities and we will be buying special bags in which we
can transport our oxygen bottles with that money. We are grateful for
all these donations and others we have received in the past. Without
them we could not operate and 22 people who had called 999 would not
have been helped by us.
Many thanks to all
those people in our operational area who have helped us either
financially or in kind. It is much appreciated.
If anyone would like to
know more about our team, do not hesitate to contact me.
Elaine Thomson
Team Leader
01768 898576
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