Co-responders
Co-responders : Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) joined South East Coast Ambulance Trust's Co-responding Scheme in 2004 and the partnership now operates in the Eastchurch, Dymchurch, Hoo, Eastry, Edenbridge and Paddock Wood communities. As well as answering calls to fires, road traffic collisions and other rescue incidents, firefighters in the areas above respond to life-threatening medical emergencies through the co-responding scheme, which was set up to assist the ambulance service in remote or isolated areas that can be hard to reach. As part of the scheme, the firefighters have volunteered to extend their existing first-aid training to the use of equipment, such as defibrillators, which can give people a better chance of surviving potentially fatal heart attacks. They also carry oxygen and are trained in basic life-support skills. Regular training and maintenance of the equipment by South East Coast Ambulance Trust ensures that these life-saving tools and skills are kept up to date so firefighters can provide care in the vital minutes before ambulance crews arrive at the scene. When we receive a co-responder call, KFRS sends a crew of two trained co-responders in a light vehicle suitable for emergency response work. In every case, an ambulance is also sent at the same time as the fire crew. South East Coast Ambulance Trust in Kent now has 750 community, co-responders or user groups trained to use defibrillators
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