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FastAid - Community First Responders

Established in 2005 FastAid trains and provides Community First Responders in the Solihull and Walsall area's of the West Midlands.

So what is a Community First Responder?
CFR's are volunteers, trained to a nationally recognised medical standard, to provide live saving treatment to people in the community. Responders are 'called out' by West Midlands Ambulance Service if they can reach a life threatening situation quicker than an Ambulance Crew. Community First Responders normally cover an area approximately 7 minutes travelling time from their home or work place.

Why do we need Community First Responders?
In the UK 135,000 people die each year from a heart attack; two thirds of these happen out side the hospital environment. A heart attack can be fatal and is due to a electrical abnormality in the heart called ventricular fibrillation (VF). The only effective treatment is Defibrillation. CFR’s carry Automatic External Defibrillators for shocking the heart. The sooner a defibrillator is used the better chance the patient has of surviving. After a patient has collapsed following a heart attack and is having a VF, every minute a defibrillator is not used the chances of survival reduces by 7 -10%. This year alone FastAid Members have successfully resuscitated 3 members of the public, who suffered a cardiac arrest, who without rapid intervention wouldn't be alive today. Find out more