a sad day for the Coltishall team.
RAF Coltishall First Response Team / June 2001 -
Sept 2006
Sadly with the closure of RAF Coltishall comes the
end of the Colt First Response team. Despite dwindling numbers the
remaining members continued to provide a valuable service working
alongside the East of England Ambulance Trust (Formally East Anglian
Ambulance Trust) with the last shift being carried out on the 30th
September 2006. It is with sadness that the Colt team should come to
a close but with some of the team posted to Marham so a welcome
influx of new responders join the Marham team.
Press Release
Another chapter in the modern history of RAF Coltishall will come to
an end on 30 September 2006 when the Coltishall First Response Team,
call sign 661, fulfil their last emergency shift.
It was in July 2001 that the First
Response Team was set up at RAF Coltishall to provide Emergency
Medical Care in conjunction with the East Anglia Ambulance Trust (EAAT).
The team then consisted of 20 volunteers, all RAF personnel who were
trained by EAAT to provide Trauma Care, Advanced Life Support and
high-speed emergency driving on blue lights and sirens.
Since its establishment, the First Response Team have completed 1800 shifts and attended in excess of
4600 '999' calls throughout East Norfolk. These calls have ranged
from simple falls, medical emergencies and sadly, the all too
regular road traffic accident.
Of all the emergency responses over
the past years, one in particular stands out. On this occasion it
was a call to a house fire in which reports stated two occupants
were still in the premises. Once on scene, the Fire Service quickly
evacuated the occupants; a fire crew treated one female at the
scene.
The other occupant was passed to the First Response Team; not a male or female person, but the occupant's
pet cat that had sadly succumbed to the smoke and was presumed dead.
However, with emergency oxygen and lots of TLC from those at the
scene, the lucky cat and her owner made full recoveries.
With an ever-increasing requirement
for service personnel to deploy away from their stations, the
Coltishall First Response Team has lost 75% of its establishment,
and today only 7 Responders remain (pictured here). Despite the
extra burden placed on those who remain, their dedication and
commitment has not waned and still remain an active part of the EAAT
by managing to man and maintain their Rapid Response Vehicle for at
least 6 priority shifts during a 7 day period.
Post 30 September, some of the team will be transferring to RAF Marham where they will join Marham's own
First Response Team. For the remainder who will be transferred to
other stations throughout the UK, it will probably mean the end of
their voluntary work in this field.
Eddie Lightfoot, who will lead the team until the 30 September, would like to take this opportunity on
behalf of his team to say farewell to the people of East Norfolk and
to those of the East Anglia Ambulance NHS Trust for their support
and encouragement over the last 5 years.
