Skinningrove Digital Village

EAST CLEVELAND FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND TO LIFE-SAVING PILOT PROJECT WITH AMBULANCE SERVICE

CLEVELAND Fire Brigade has teamed up with Tees, East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service to provide a rapid response to emergency calls where a heart-starting defibrillator machine may be required.

Firefighters in Saltburn, Guisborough, Skelton and Loftus have been trained to use the simple heart defibrillation equipment as part of a pilot scheme aimed at reaching vulnerable patients more quickly.

Crews in East Cleveland are ready to respond to emergency calls for a defibrillator in rural areas, where they may be first on the scene to provide time-crucial care, and firefighters throughout the rest of the Brigade area will also be trained to use the equipment during the next 12 months.

This partnership will further strengthen the TENYAS support team of first-responders from throughout the community, who are trained to use the simple, life-saving device in public places such as shopping centers, cinemas and airports.

Andy Witham Station Manager for the East Cleveland Area said: “The main aim of this partnership is to get people who are trained in the use of a defibrillator to an emergency situation as fast as possible. Time is crucial in this kind of incident. A heart-attack patient who receives help within eight minutes has a greater chance of survival.

“We are not aiming to respond instead of the ambulance service, but as well as. Paramedics will always respond to a call, but sometimes we may get there first to provide help until the ambulance arrives.”

This kind of partnership working is already working well in other rural areas. Members of the public should not be concerned who attends with a defibrillator. People from all walks of life are trained to use them. What does matter is that whoever gets there first has the opportunity to help save a life.”

If residents of the East Cleveland Area require any further information please feel free to contact Andy Witham on 01642 456511.