Ambulance Service Institute First Responder of the Year

Tim Atherton of Fastaid, Community First Responders, Solihull was recently awarded First Responder of the year at 2008 Ambulance Service Institute Awards.

The Ambulance Service Institute makes the awards to mark the outstanding actions of ambulance staff across the country. An awards ceremony was hosted by Jacquai Lait MP in the Commons on Thursday 16th October.

Tim Atherton was introduced to the world of Community First Responders (CFR) by his parents who both respond. He is now an active member of the FASTAID group in Solihull and has been a willing volunteer for the last two years. On average, Tim responds to between 10 and 15 incidents a month while he is on call during the evening and at weekends. He wanted to become a CFR because it ‘allowed him to get out into his local community and really make a difference to people’s lives’. As well as responding Tim plays a large role in ensuring each of the members of the group has all of the necessary equipment and arranges fundraising and awareness days for FASTAID. He currently works for a design and web agency in Birmingham.

WMAS Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh, said: “Each of the recipients of these awards deserves enormous praise for their actions. The way they conducted themselves during very difficult circumstances is of great credit to them.
“I think I can speak for everyone within the Trust when I say that we are all immensely proud of them. To win one award is excellent but to scoop six including the top award for the second year running is exceptional.”

Trust Chairman, Sir Graham Meldrum added: “Huge congratulations must go to each of the individuals that has won an award. Their actions may have been highlighted but they are repeated by so many others on an almost daily basis across the Region. These awards should give everyone in the West Midlands tremendous confidence in the Service.”

Michael Crossfield, Staffside Chairman, said: “Despite the continuing increase in workload in all departments, these awards highlight the quality of staff in the Trust; they are a credit to each of those who have received awards.”