More firefighters train to deal with medical calls

Firefighters from Cromer, Sheringham and North Walsham stations with Vikki Darby from EEAST (centre)

An initiative to train firefighters to respond to medical emergencies is being expanded.

The East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) said seven rural fire stations in Norfolk were now equipped to help ambulance crews.

The latest to go live are Hunstanton, Heacham and Sandringham – with an eighth for Aylsham due soon.

Having on-call firefighters at rural fire stations trained to respond to medical emergencies means help can get to patients in need faster, said EEAST.

Tom Barker, EEAST's head of collaborative response, said: "Our collaboration with the fire service is all about getting medical help to people who need it as quickly as possible.

"We know there are lots of fire stations in rural towns and villages across Norfolk, so having properly trained on-call firefighters ready to help in a medical emergency is hugely beneficial to patients and communities."

'A real difference'

So far this year, Norfolk firefighters have been dispatched to 42 Category 1 incidents - the most serious emergencies, such as cardiac arrests, said EEAST.

In 45% of those incidents, firefighters were first on the scene, with crews arriving on average two minutes and 50 seconds before an ambulance.

EEAST has also recently donated 10 automated external defibrillators to Norfolk Fire & Rescue Service, which have been installed at rural fire stations across the county and can also be accessed by members of the public.

Paul Seaman, head of operations for the fire service, said: "Our work is all about saving lives.

"By these additional stations now being able to support this co-responding work, we know that it is making a real difference to outcomes for cardiac arrest patients in Norfolk."