Horsham & Southwater Community First Responders

We have a patron in the form of Dr Jonathan Palmer. 

How Is The Group Organised?

In the group there are various roles:

  • Responders                                                         
  • Organsers                        
  • Administration                                                                                   
  • Fundraisers
  • Committee members

All Responders are subject to a check by the National Criminal Records Bureau before they can go on call.

We are a registered charity (registration number 1127511)

We organise our own:

  • on-call rota, taking into account our own commitments
  • fundraising
  • administration

What Calls Do We Go To?

  • Cardiac arrest
  • Unconscious or collapsed patients
  • Chest pain
  • Breathing difficulties
  • Minor trauma

Calls We Don't Go To                                                     

  • Fire
  • Severe trauma
  • Spinal injuries
  • Industrial accidents
  • Road traffic collisions
  • Any accident involving violence of aggression
  • Alcohol or drug related incidents
  • Maternity of gynaecological emergencies

 How Does It Work?

  • We are alerted of an incident by text message at the same time as an NHS ambulance.
  • We mobilise and get to the scene as soon as possible, obeying speed limits
  • We may get to the scene before the NHS ambulance and will  give vital lifesaving treatment and prevent the pateint from getting any worse
  • We stay until told to stand down by the ambulance crew and provide care and reassurance to patients and relatives

What Area Do We Cover?

Who Can Join?

To volunteer as a responder you need to:

  • Live in the local area
  • Be over age 21
  • Be fit to practice
  • Pass a criminal records bureau (CRB) check
  • Attend regular training and meetings
  • Have your own transport
  • Be able to attend a 2 day training course and assessment
  • Be able to go triple-crewing with a local ambulance crew

What Else Could I Do To Help?

  • Volunteer as a fundraiser
  • Help with administration
  • Offer help in kind e.g. printing leafletsw/posters etc
  • Offer to have a collecting tin at your place of work or shop
  • Organise a fundraising event at your place of work
  • Allow members of your staff to attend incidents in working hours
  • If you do internet shopping use easyfunding.org.uk and we will receive a donation at no extra cost to you. Easyfundraising is a shopping directory that features some of your favourite online stores, such as Next, Amazon and John Lewis. It is completely free to register and use and additional discounts may be available. All you need to do is visit: www.easyfundraising.org.uk/horshamsouthwatercommunityfr