Recruitment crisis for emergency services
Great strain has been put on the small pool of existing volunteers
Arran’s volunteer emergency services may be facing a personnel crisis in the near future unless additional volunteers can be recruited to join their ranks.
With volunteering in decline, and increasing demand from Arran’s emergency services, a large number of new volunteers is required to avoid the dire consequence of the current trajectory.
HM Coastguard, the RNLI, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Services and Arran’s First Responders are all facing a lower availability of volunteers, though as yet it has not led to a decline in services on Arran. But it has placed additional demands, and a greater strain, on the small pool of existing volunteers. Last year the Coastguard team went down to four members, but managed between them to attend every callout – an average of 138 shouts – which has been hailed as a huge accomplishment. Thankfully, the Arran Coastguard team now has seven members, but that is still at half its full strength, with space for 14 volunteers in total.
Fiona Laing, of the Arran Coastguard, said: ‘The role of being a Coastguard rescue officer can be very rewarding, as all emergency volunteering roles can be.
‘As well as having the task of securing and lighting the landing site for the helicopters at Knockenkelly – a crucial task for all islanders who may need helicopter evacuation – Coastguards train in search techniques and search coordination, water rescue, rope rescue, dealing with potential ordnance washed up on the shores and first aid.
‘This is not an exhaustive list, but it could seem daunting to someone thinking about volunteering. The Coastguard will at no point expect you to do something you are not comfortable with doing, like enter the water to swim to rescue someone or go over a cliff.
‘For each of these things to happen safely, a multitude of other roles need to be filled first. You need to be 18 to join the Coastguard, but there is no upper age limit, although you will undergo a basic medical and an interview.’
The three First Responder groups on Arran – North, South and West – are also all looking for volunteers. Their role is to attend to patients within the crucial 20 to 30 minutes it takes for an ambulance to reach them from Lamlash.
They also perform CPR and defibrillation, which needs to be carried out within the first few minutes of a cardiac arrest, and they arrive within a few vi- tal minutes of a 999 call. First responders assess the patient’s condition, sometimes administering oxygen until the arrival of the ambulance, and provide a good dose of reassurance. Patient feedback tells them that someone arriving quickly alleviates a lot of stress, especially since it can take more than half an hour for the ambulance to arrive due to the geography of the island, or sometimes even longer if it is already busy on another job.
Unlike other emergency volunteers, you only need to be available as a first responder when you are scheduled to provide the cover, so, depending on your other commitments, that could be as little as one night or day shift, or a 24hour period, a week. The more volunteers they have, the less on-call time everyone has to do.
There is no upper age limit to being a first responder but you will need to undergo a full disclosure/ PVG check, and the ability to perform two minutes of CPR is a basic physical requirement. All training is provided on the island, and no previous first aid or medical experience is required.
Recruitment issues on Arran also apply to the RNLI, which would welcome any new volunteers.
An RNLI spokesman said: ‘We are very fortunate to have a dedicated team of volunteers in Arran across all of the aspects of the station.
‘However, we are always looking for new volunteers, particularly those who can commit on a regular and long-term basis.
‘We particularly struggle during business hours, and we obviously understand that these hours can be a struggle for many people, as not all employers are in a position to offer this flexibility.
‘We welcome any new volunteers to the station but would particularly welcome anyone who is fit and healthy, under 55, in a job with a degree of flexibility and who can commit to training a minimum of twice a month.’
Volunteers are also being sought across three Scottish Fire and Rescue stations on Arran. Senior officer for Ayrshire James Scott said: ‘The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is aware of a shortage of volunteer firefighters at Corriecravie, and we would very much welcome new volunteers at this station, as well as at Blackwaterfoot and Lochranza.
‘We are offering individuals from all backgrounds a fantastic opportunity to learn and develop new skills, broaden their horizons and become a part of an emergency service family that works together to safeguard those who live on the island or visit it throughout the year.
‘There is no doubt that volunteer firefighters sit at the very heart of their communities. They are working or living in those communities and they are ready to protect those communities at a moment’s notice.
‘Their role is therefore as vital and as valued as wholetime and retained firefighters – because those volunteers also respond to house fires, wild land fires and road traffic collisions. They can also be called upon to support other agencies in responding to emergencies.
‘The fire and rescue service has a very long history of serving and protecting the communities of Arran, and we would welcome new volunteers to continue this most proud tradition.
‘Anyone who is interested in finding out more about becoming a volunteer firefighter on Arran can call 01294 607000 to find out more about the selection and training process.’
For most of the volunteers, though, the true reward for their work is the fulfilment found in helping others, the camaraderie with colleagues, learning new skills and helping make a difference in their community.
The volunteer ethos is probably summed up best by Fiona Laing, who volunteers with both HM Coastguard and as a first responder. She said: ‘In times of emergency, we look to our fellow islanders to be there when we need them.
‘It is our neighbours, friends and work colleagues who give up their time to train, so that when we need them they are there for us. Simply put, we need more people to consider volunteering to provide these vital services.’