The Website of Vale First Responders - VFR is a Community First Responder group
In association with East Midlands Ambulance Service
Covering The Vale of Belvoir - North Leicestershire and South Nottinghamshire
To read our disclaimer page, please click HERE
Vale First Responders is a charity registered in England and Wales number 1115596 - to see our registration details, click HERE
VFR now in Association with The British Heart Foundation
Last year, VFR applied to British Heart Foundation to run the BHF “Heartstart” scheme in the
Vale of Belvoir. Heartstart is an initiative whereby trained volunteers deliver short instruction sessions on
the basic “ELS” or “Emergency Life Support” techniques.
British Heart Foundation approved our co-coordinator for this project, and after careful vetting, also approved our
Training Director. East Midlands Ambulance Service were delighted to be appointed as our Scheme Directors.
Our first two courses have been completed and we have now trained over 20 people around The Vale.
Feedback has been excellent, and we will continue to roll out these courses on a regular basis, providing the
local residents with the skills, and above all the confidence, to take charge in an emergency and help maintain
Life.
Vale of Belvoir. Heartstart is an initiative whereby trained volunteers deliver short instruction sessions on
the basic “ELS” or “Emergency Life Support” techniques.
British Heart Foundation approved our co-coordinator for this project, and after careful vetting, also approved our
Training Director. East Midlands Ambulance Service were delighted to be appointed as our Scheme Directors.
Our first two courses have been completed and we have now trained over 20 people around The Vale.
Feedback has been excellent, and we will continue to roll out these courses on a regular basis, providing the
local residents with the skills, and above all the confidence, to take charge in an emergency and help maintain
Life.
VFR Purchasing another new De-fibrillator
The Trustees decided to purchase our fifth defibrillator as the group continues to expand and we now have
trained responders right across the majority of the 200 square miles that comprises The Vale of Belvoir.
The cost of another “Laerdal Heartstart FR2” defibrillator was around £1900 and the new kit is already on the road.
The Trustees purchased the Laerdal unit as it is the only unit on the market that incorporated “Smart CPR”
which is proven to have benefits for a patient. “With five such Laerdal units now around The Vale, we are we
very well placed to respond quickly to appropriate emergencies” said John Mackley, Equipment Officer for VFR.
trained responders right across the majority of the 200 square miles that comprises The Vale of Belvoir.
The cost of another “Laerdal Heartstart FR2” defibrillator was around £1900 and the new kit is already on the road.
The Trustees purchased the Laerdal unit as it is the only unit on the market that incorporated “Smart CPR”
which is proven to have benefits for a patient. “With five such Laerdal units now around The Vale, we are we
very well placed to respond quickly to appropriate emergencies” said John Mackley, Equipment Officer for VFR.
VFR now with more fully qualified Responders than ever before
Four newly qualified Responders have just joined the team, taking our numbers to the highest level of qualified personnel
We have had since the group was formed in early 2005. Rod Whitehead, Chairman since 2006 commented that;
“with the number of Responders now at almost 20 and with 5 kits on the road, this voluntary group is going from
strength to strength. Eight of our Responders are now also certificated instructors for The British Heart Foundation
Heartstart scheme. In terms of delivery of this course, there is no substitute for being out on the road and gaining
valuable day to day patient experience. We are therefore fully trained to deliver the technical aspects, but can also
bring a really valuable insight into some of the practical aspects that others without our level of practical experience
would lack.”
VFR have further recruits that will go through the East Midlands Ambulance Service four day course Responder
course after the Summer holidays and dates are currently being fixed.
We have had since the group was formed in early 2005. Rod Whitehead, Chairman since 2006 commented that;
“with the number of Responders now at almost 20 and with 5 kits on the road, this voluntary group is going from
strength to strength. Eight of our Responders are now also certificated instructors for The British Heart Foundation
Heartstart scheme. In terms of delivery of this course, there is no substitute for being out on the road and gaining
valuable day to day patient experience. We are therefore fully trained to deliver the technical aspects, but can also
bring a really valuable insight into some of the practical aspects that others without our level of practical experience
would lack.”
VFR have further recruits that will go through the East Midlands Ambulance Service four day course Responder
course after the Summer holidays and dates are currently being fixed.
Recent Bingham Advertiser Press article
The following article appeared in the Bingham advertiser on 5th September 2008. Click on the article preview below to open a pdf version of the article. See the Bingham Advertiser site at www.binghamadvertiser.co.uk
