Paramedic’s plea for life-saving funds
THE only volunteer paramedic in Nuneaton desperately needs donations to help her continue to save lives.
Jean Harris is a community first responder who attends emergency calls in her home town.
She is the only one in Nuneaton, despite it being the largest town in Warwickshire.
A car has been donated to Jean by the Research Garage Group but she now needs to raise the £1,000 to pay the insurance.
If the money cannot be raised then the car will need to be returned.
Cllr Dan Gissane, who represents Galley Common on the borough council and also works in the ambulance service himself, set up an online fundraising page for Jean.
He said: “Jean’s been active on social media looking for donations and I said I would help her set up a donation page.
“I know how useful Jean is and what she does.”
Jean has won awards for her volunteering and has helped save lives during the time she has been a community first responder.
At the moment Jean uses her own car to go to jobs but this dedicated car would mean she always has a reliable car to get to emergencies.
It also wouldn’t only be used by Jean. If more community first responders were recruited then they would also have access to the vehicle.
Cllr Gissane added: “If there’s an issue with her car then that’s her only option to get to an emergency.
“It allows her to have reliable car to get to the jobs.”
Community first responders are trained up by the ambulance service to be able to attend emergencies.
They are there in the hope that they can reach a potentially lifethreatening emergency in the first vital minutes before the ambulance crew arrives and can take over the treatment.
Cllr Gissane said: “If someone had an asthma attack or a heart attack she will make a big difference.
“Anxiety can make a big difference to people in emergencies and she can get there and calm them down.
Currently Jean is the only active community first responder in Nuneaton but West Midlands Ambulance Service is keen to recruit more volunteers.
If you are interested in becoming a community first responder, call West Midlands Ambulance Service, go to www.wmas.nhs.uk/ wmas-services/ community- firstresponders
To donate to the fund for Jean’s insurance, go to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/nuneaton-cfrcar