CFA to be back up to ambulance service

Country Fire Authority brigades are being recruited to provide life saving first aid and resuscitation response to Triple Zero (000) calls.

Fifty CFA brigades are proposed to become part of a Fire Medical Response program established in conjunction with Ambulance Victoria.

A CFA spokesperson said data had been collected and analysed to determine the most appropriate areas to establish the service with distance from town-based ambulance stations a factor in the considerations.

Discussions will be held with brigades over coming months to find out which ones would be interested in being part of the program.

CFA deputy chief officer Garry Cook described the program as a natural fit for the CFA with the FMR brigades dispatched simultaneously with the nearest emergency ambulances to provide life saving CPR, defibrillation and support to paramedics.

FMR responders will undertake a multi-day training course delivered by paramedic educators and equipped with Ambulance Victoria compatible defibrillators.

The first brigades are expected to operating early next year.

Mr Cook said the CFA, with more than 1100 volunteers fire stations and 50,000 members, was in a unique position to intervene in cardiac arrests and complement ambulance responses.

Ambulance Victoria's acting executive director clinical operations Anthony Carlyon said it was "fantastic news" for regional communities.

The chance of survival of a person suffering cardiac arrest is reduced by 10 per cent for every minute defibrillation is delayed and there is no doubt the FMR program will improve survival rates and provide more equitable emergency care in regional areas, he said.