Becoming a Community Frist Responder is a very straight forward process, but can take anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months depending on a number of factors such as availability of upcoming training courses, how much time you can commit during shadowing periods and how keen you are to get involved in our scheme. Below is a list of the key milestones in becoming a First Responder with us:
Stage 1 – Initial Interest
When you first make contact, one of the scheme leaders will get in touch with yourself and arrange a meeting. At that meeting, we will discuss what we do, why you would like to get involved, what you hope to achieve through the scheme and the commitment involved. You will also be invited to join some of our scheme training sessions to see what we do and to begin to get to know everyone. If you are happy to continue, then we move on to the paperwork.
Stage 2 – Paperwork
Stage 2 is the formal paperwork process. This involves a driving license check, an enhanced DBS check and registering you for the next ambulance service training course.
Stage 3 – Informal Training
While you are waiting for the ambulance training course, we will run informal training with yourself. This will allow you to progress at a comfortable pace and will prepare you to breeze through the formal training course. We will cover life support, treatment of medical conditions, patient history taking, process and procedure, your scope of practice and a whole bunch of other topics in the hope that you are prepared to the point that the formal course is relatively straight forward.
Stage 4 – Formal Training & Certification
This is it! the formal course! You will attend a local 999 ambulance training venue where you will be formally taught all the topics covered in your informal training and more. You will be trained, assessed and equipped for life as a first responder. By the end of the week (or couple of weekends, or zoom sessions followed by shortened in-person sessions!) you will be a formally accredited First Responder.
Stage 5 – Shadowing
Beyond formal training and as soon as you have your uniform (which we can arrange in advance if you’re super keen!), we will pair you up with one of our more experienced responders. You will attend real life 999 calls on behalf of the ambulance service, providing life saving treatment within your scope of practice under the supervision of an experienced responder. Over time, you will move from an observer to a leader, relying less and less on your mentor until you are ready to “go live”.
Stage 6 – Live Response
Once you are fully comfortable as a responder, we will issue you with your own response kit and callsign. You will be ready to go out as a solo responder or to pair up with any other member of the scheme should you choose to. You will continue to attend our monthly training sessions and will be required to keep a current DBS as well as pass yearly requalification sessions in order to keep your skills sharp and your patients safe. By now, you will have also made a group of friends for life and will be a leader in your community.
After a year of response, you will be eligible to move from a level 2 to level 3 community responder. Taking this step is entirely your choice and not everyone chooses to become a level 3 responder.