News

We are always looking for help to raise funds, and we are delighted that Alison Giblin from Solihull has decided to support FastAid  Alison will be running in the Stratford Half Marathon on 28th of April and is looking for sponsors to raise funds for FastAid. When asked why she wanted to raise money for FastAid Alison said:  ”Three years ago I was very seriously ill and came very close to death which made me decide that I need to have challenges ... Read more

National Express has today announced it will be supporting the community first responder charity FastAid through the donation of an automated external defibrillator (AED) and a commitment for FastAid to be the designated charity this year for the Yardley Wood garage. The AED will be used by community first responder (CFR) Diane Johnson who is the training manager for the National Express bus garage at Yardley Wood. When Diane isn’t training National Express staff she is often ready to respond to medical ... Read more

Six people were injured in a road traffic collision involving two cars and a tree in Knowle on Saturday.West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Widney Manor Road in Knowle shortly before 3.45pm.  Three ambulances, a community first responder from Fastaid, a responder paramedic, a medic and a paramedic area support officer attended the scene. A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Crews arrived to find two cars had collided with one car also colliding with a tree.  The driver of the ... Read more

On Wednesday 5th of December, FastAid Community First Responders joined the Moseley Round table to bring festive fun to Billesley by taking Santa and his sleigh around the neighbourhood meeting local residents on Bondfield Road, Wold Walk, Eastham Road, Purefoy Road, Church Grove, Beauchamp Road, Colemeadow Road, Bromwall Road, Picton Grove and Selby Grove. FastAid Fundraising Manager, Ashley Almquest, said “We’ve had a great time working with the Moseley Round Table and Santa.  The residents enjoyed meeting Santa and they were very generous in ... Read more

Sytner Solihull, sponsor of the BMW Mini FastAid Response Car, won an award for “Excellence In The Community: Business Support” at the West Midlands Ambulance Service Community Awards 2012. At the annual event, held this year in Telford on Tuesday evening, Sytner were given the award for their support of FastAid Community First Responders in Solihull and Birmingham.  Since November last year, the local dealership have supplied a fully marked up BMW Mini Coupe for the responders to use in the Shirley ... Read more

Last Tuesday saw the annual West Midlands Ambulance Service Community Awards evening, this year taking place in Telford.  Awards were a plenty for FastAid with Richard Jay, Dave Monk, Jeff Way, Carol Way, Mike Mansell, Helen Walker and Richie Pask receiving Chief Officer Commendations for ‘Going Above and Beyond Call of Duty’.  Sam Jackson was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for her long service to FastAid and other charity work. Pictured (left to right): Andy Jeynes, Sam Jackson, Richard Jay, Dave Monk, ... Read more

On Saturday 18th of August, FastAid Community First Responders were invited to Tesco at Edgbaston to hold a collection and raise awareness of the scheme in Birmingham. Three CFR’s with the help of Laura Hopley, from HSBC, raised £267.47 which will go to support the volunteers in the Birmingham area. Ashley Almquest (Quinton Community First Responder) said “It is always good to meet the public at events such as this, many people are interested in what we do and willing to donate to ... Read more

On Saturday 14th of July, FastAid community first responders Ashley Almquest, Helen Hawes and Mark McAndrew from South Birmingham were invited to hold a collection at the Tesco store in Quinton.  The CFR’s demonstrated hands only CPR outside the store with a resusci-anne and encouraged shoppers to learn a life saving skill. Thanks to the generosity of Tesco customers the CFR’s raised a total of £467.26. Quinton CFR Ashley Almquest said “Many customers tried having a go at hands only CPR which is great, ... Read more

In early May 2012, a FastAid Community First Responder (CFR) attended a 999 call to a baby with breathing difficulties.  The 5 week old baby boy had stopped breathing but was successfully resuscitated by the CFR on arrival.   Six months ago, 2 FastAid CFRs were called to an elderly man in cardiac arrest at a social event.  Rapid intervention provided a positive outcome.   In June 2011 a FastAid CFR attended a teenager who was in cardiac arrest.  He arrived on scene 3 minutes ... Read more

In early May a FastAid CFR attended a call to a baby with breathing difficulties in a village near Kenilworth.  The 5 week old baby boy had stopped breathing but was successfully resuscitated by the FastAid CFR on arrival. Backup was provided by the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance who were on the scene within 5 minutes after taking off from their base at Coventry Airport.  The baby was then taken by air to Coventry and Warwickshire University Hospital, landing there around half ... Read more