Application
Potential
First Responder's must first complete an Application Form
and have their details added to the team database before the
induction procedure starts. Once the initial Application has
been processed applicant's will be issued with a First
Response
Operational Guidelines consisting of the following
documents:
General Information and Guidance for First Responder Volunteers from the Armed Forces
Terms of Reference - Emergency Responder Responder
Criminal Records Bureau Checks
First Response Code of Conduct
Complaints and Discipline Procedure
East of England First Response (EoEFR) Operational Procedures
Proof of Insurance Letter
Occupational Health Certificates
Personal Development Record
Observer Guidelines
Training Policy
Initial Training
The first stage of probationary training starts with a minimum of two third man shifts on frontline East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) vehicles or the First Response Vehicle, and there are a number of objectives that should be met during these shifts. These are detailed in the EoEFR Personal Development Record which include: location, checks and operation of equipment, stretcher loading and unloading and handover of patients to A&E as well as working with the EEAST crews who back up the First Response teams during incidents.
Once a date for a Responder Clinical Course has been established and selection and interviews have been passed, successful candidates will be sent a pre-course study package that covers aspects not covered during the course including Anatomy and Physiology, medical terminology and patient assessment.
The training
course is an Edexcel certified IHCD First Person on Scene
course of 5 days duration.
More information can be
found at the Edexcel website
This 40 hour course is intensive and teaches all aspects of
Responder skills and knowledge including Intermediate Life
Support and CPR with Automatic External Defibrillation.
It covers a wide variety of medical and trauma emergencies
and all the skills to deal with any incident that the
Responders can attend including multi-casualty Road Traffic
Collisions (RTC). The training culminates in both
written and practical assessments by Registered Paramedics.
Once Responders have successfully completed the
clinical training they will complete the probationary stage
of training with three shifts as an observer in the First
Response Vehicle in order to observe First Response
deployment procedures, learn the use of the radio and
complete paperwork.
Continuation Training
It is imperative that all Responders remain current in procedures not normally practiced during the day to day shift pattern, such as Cardiac Arrest, medical emergencies and some equipment procedures. Therefore, a continual programme of continuation training evenings are held on a monthly basis by the team Training Co-ordinators. The monthly training consists of 3 x 40 minute periods and are held at a time suitable for most First Responders.
In order to ensure that relevancy is maintained, each First Response Team is assigned an EEAST representative who is responsible for the teams training and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and Basic Life Support (BLS) validation.
BLS/AED Validation
During the first year all Responders are assessed in their BLS/AED skills every 90 days. This is carried out by an internal assessor followed by an external assessor qualified by EEAST. After the first year this is carried out on an annual basis unless individual Station Co-ordinators wish otherwise. BLS/AED validation is normally arranged for every 3rd training evening as a minimum in order to make the validation available to all Responders. If necessary local arrangements can be made to carry out the assessment with the Team Training Co-ordinator outside of these times.
All Responders are required to attend a minimum of one training evening every three months unless there is a specific reason for non attendance, such as a four month Out of Area Deployment.
Continuing Personal Development
There is a definite need for re-qualification that must be attended by all responders in order to ensure skill fade is reduced to an absolute minimum. This annual two-day course will cover aspects of clinical training and practical and written assessment to re-certify all responders and instruct them in the changing procedures involved in pre-hospital care. Training Co-ordinators should attempt to organise this training to allow as much participation as possible, if a Responder is unavailable due to OoA Ops then that Responder is to arrange to complete the training with another EEFR Team at the earliest opportunity.
Driving Course
Those personnel that are selected to attend the 3 week driving
course with the Ambulance Service are selected on merit and
commitment
to the scheme. The position of driver is privileged,
drivers must be mature and have passed the initial
assessment conducted by the scheme's assessors. Once
selected the individual will be trained by instructors
qualified in Advanced and Emergency Driving. The first
2 weeks involve advanced driving techniques before a week
long emergency driving module in the relevant Rapid Response
Vehicles, other modules include skid awareness training as
well as routine maintenance.
