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First Response needs help

A vital service in the Shaky Village is in desperate need of more volunteers.

First Response is on a recruitment drive.

“There are currently seven active responders on the rota but ideally the number should be double that,” said Alan Moffat, Comrie’s First Response manager.

“Some of our volunteers have been with us since the start in 2005. And over the years many people have given responding a go but for various reasons, such as other responsibilities, leaving the village, having babies, moving jobs etc, they ultimately move on, so we are now appealing for some new volunteers to get involved.”

The First Response service runs in conjunction wi t h the Scottish Ambulance Service. If a patient calls 999, but a local ambulance isn’t quickly available, then responders are sent to help.

Comrie First Response has its own fully equipped vehicle and can get to an incident anywhere in Comrie within eight minutes of an emergency call being received, which can make a massive difference to a patient’s chances of recovery.

Recruitment is done through Scottish Ambulance and full training is given for the role.

Alan added: “Anyone aged 18 or over who lives in Comrie and is fit and healthy and able to pass a PVG is eligible to sign up. We look for four shifts a month from our members, who work in pairs.

“These can be through the day on a Saturday or Sunday, or on a week night, which we try to cover from 6pm to 8am, and shifts are conducive to volunteers’ own work plans.

“It is rewarding and satisfying to know that you could save someone’s life in your community – and that could even be your parent, sibling, neighbour or friend.

“Full training is given and responders are only required to be on duty once a week – more if they want to. There is also a monthly training session to attend.

“We have responded to over 500 calls since concept ranging from diabetic emergencies to cardiac arrests.”

Contact Alan Moffat on 07541194532.