Downland HeartStart Community First Responders

For East Dean, Friston, Birling Gap & Crowlink Basic Life Support Provided By Local Volunteers

Downland Heartstart was launched by Ken Gerry and a group of likeminded people in January 2009 with the aim of recruiting a group of local volunteers to act as Community First Responders. The Ambulance Service trains us and calls upon us to respond to local emergencies . Ours is a somewhat remote rural community and there can be some delay in an ambulance arriving. . We are all local people who know the area and will reach a person with a life threatening condition to give immediate aid. We continue to do this until the ambulance arrives which might take some time if the ambulance service is busy. The benefits of our service were apparent during the severe weather that we experienced in January 2010.

There are some 1600 people living in the local villages which we cover. Of these 66% are over 45 and 30% are over 65. One third of people developing heart attacks die before reaching hospital. Early treatment doubles the chance of survival. Clearly the importance of having a trained group of First Responders - who know the area - is of the utmost importance.

The word Heartstart in our name is a bit misleading as the training which we receive is not limited to problems involving the heart but includes the treatment of choking, breathing problems, allergic reactions, wounds, burns and falls. In fact the main reason that we get a call is because somebody has fallen.

In a medical emergency it is important that you dial 999. You should not attempt to contact a local Responder. We cannot attend an incident unless instructed to do so by the Emergency Dispatch Centre in Lewes. The Responder on duty will receive the instruction as the 999 call is made and there is negligible delay

We now have a team of nine trained Responders - with more awaiting training. But it costs over £1,000 to provide the basic kit and uniform for each Responder. It follows that we need more money if we are to maintain a 24/7 service. The ambulance service provides us with some equipment and we are grateful for some generous donations and a grants from the Coop Community Fund, The Parish Council, The Sussex Heart Foundation and the Parochial Church Council

At our recent AGM, Ken Gerry stood down as Team Leader and his place has been taken by Flora Richards. Ken is now our Chairman.

We now have 40 members. There is no membership fee to Join Downland Hearststat although a donation is always welcome. If you would like to join, help us with fund raising or train to be a Responder please contact us for an application form or further details.

Rob Page
Hon. Secretary
01323 423484
robert937page@btinternet.com

Ken Gerry
Chairman
01323 423563

Flora Richards
Team Leader
423882

Hon Secretary: Robert Page
Telephone: 01323 423484
Email: heartstart@eastdeanvillage.org.uk