CFRs

dmatty06

Just wondering are there any community first responders on here? Ive recently heard that they may be setting up a programme in my neck of woods and am wondering if anyone has experience of this in other towns already? Think it may be a cardiac first responder system but not entirely sure how it works? Are cfrs called by amb control if no ambulances available or what is story?

DubMedic

dmatty06 wrote: »

Just wondering are there any community first responders on here? Ive recently heard that they may be setting up a programme in my neck of woods and am wondering if anyone has experience of this in other towns already? Think it may be a cardiac first responder system but not entirely sure how it works? Are cfrs called by amb control if no ambulances available or what is story?

If your talking about Wicklow, then yes, I heard there is one being set up there at the moment.

It works well in many rural areas because towns would on average be smaller than major urban areas . Therefore time from collapse to defib shock ( if defib & trained personnel available ) usually takes less time than in big cities , ( although ambulance response times in Dublin are mostly under 10 mins thankfully).

However, the reason why these programs are being set up is because often ambulances have to travel quite some distance to reach the patient, and in cardiac arrest oxygen supply to the brain stops. If not resumed within 10 minutes then there is a risk of significant brain damage.

Sometimes ambulances may be tied up dealing with a bad RTA ( Road Traffic Accident ) and will take time to finish up at the hospital and head towards the new call ( cardiac arrest ). Meanwhile, Trained responders who have been alerted by Ambulance Control will be asked to respond and provide care prior to the ambulance arrival/dispatch.

Here is a quote from irishambulance.net on what one poster said about Wicklow's scheme ( not sure on credibility ).

I was recently talking to hse controller living in the wicklow area and i asked him the same question as to if it is being deployed.

he said that it was up and running fairly well with the hse computer sysytem set up so that medical calls that could be responded to were automatically texted to the people on call in the north or sth region of wicklow.

Mods, edit if needed/as appropriate.

.

wheresthebeef

I'm the Operations Officer of Celbridge CFR Programme (Co. Kildare)
There is an extensive number of groups around counties wicklow and kildare, and the HSE are rolling the scheme out nationwide.

Yes the CFR's are dispatched by ambulance control, currently in Kildare the CFR's receive a normal phone call on a phone (provided by the HSE) which is passed around amongst those who are "on call". The responder goes to the scene with their equipment, and treats the patient as neccesary, and then calls HSE Amb Control to say they are clear and home safe. Thats it in a nutshell. Wicklow do have a text system in place, and this is coming to Kildare in August of this year according to the HSE's CFR Co-Ordinator.

If anyone see's this and is living in celbridge, our contact address is david@celbridgefirstresponder.net

Thanks.

civildefence

I think it's a great idea in any rural area but AFAIK community first responders are not allowed to respond under blue lights so they must obey the traffic rules while responding to a call. This is how the UK system works anyway.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/Scottish_Ambulance_Service_First_Responder_vehicle.jpg

maglite

Has anyone got a contact or definitive reliable info about the texting system.

DubMedic

maglite wrote: »

Has anyone got a contact or definitive reliable info about the texting system.

I presume the CFRs themselves would :rolleyes: /end sarcasm.

Contact wheresthebeef above and ask him if he doesn't mind putting you in contact with the wicklow scheme , you can ask the co-ordinator if he wouldn't mind answering some queries you have.

Alternatively if your in the svce yourself ,ask your control.

.

DubMedic

civildefence wrote: »

I think it's a great idea in any rural area but AFAIK community first responders are not allowed to respond under blue lights so they must obey the traffic rules while responding to a call. This is how the UK system works anyway.

civdef that picture is much too small. :rolleyes:

.

civildefence

DubMedic wrote: »

civdef that picture is much too small. :rolleyes:

.

Sorry about that, just left the link. Anyone wanna buy a 10 foot by 8 foot scanner?

dmatty06

Thanks guys. And is it members of the public who are trained up or off duty medics? How often do you guys get called wheresthebeef?

civdef

What'd I say?

alentejo

It should be technically possible that when a control operator logs a call on ProQa (or equivalent), if a certain code or codes such as a cardiac 10D4, this would automatically send a SMS message a mobile phone based on address to a specific number or group of numbers. Technically, this can be done.

However this should not interfere with the ambulance dispatch is mobilizing the appropriate response.

drill

alentejo wrote: »

It should be technically possible that when a control operator logs a call on ProQa (or equivalent), if a certain code or codes such as a cardiac 10D4, this would automatically send a SMS message a mobile phone based on address to a specific number or group of numbers. Technically, this can be done.

However this should not interfere with the ambulance dispatch is mobilizing the appropriate response.

Thats exactly how the Wicklow CFRs are dispatched via hse amb. control with ambulance dispatched same time.

DubMedic

civdef wrote: »

What'd I say?

My apologies, i shortened down civildefence's profile name into civdef.

My replies were meant for civildefence.

I didn't realise it was two different people, or that there is two different profiles similar.


.

pingu2008

The Order of Malta, Tramore unit held the official launch of their new Cardiac First Responder Scheme (CCFR) on Saturday 9th May at the Grand Hotel Tramore. This new scheme will work in conjunction with the HSE National Ambulance Service.
The Report of the Task Force on Sudden Cardiac Death published in March 2006 noted that the chances of survival following a cardiac arrest are considerably improved if there is a rapid, coordinated response to the emergency, hence the development of CCFR schemes throughout Ireland. The Tramore Order of Malta will be part of a linked response scheme. This works whereby as soon as a person dials 999/112 for the ambulance service, the Emergency Medical Controller with the aid of the Computer Aided Dispatch system automatically pages the First Responder on call to notify them of an incident while simultaneously an Emergency Ambulance is dispatched. There is significant information to suggest that early intervention can have a major impact on survival from a cardiac arrest.
The members of Order of Malta Tramore, who are all voluntary have received specialist training and equipment so that they can provide an early intervention before the arrival of an Emergency Ambulance. They are all registered with PHECC as CFR’s and are now undergoing further training as EFR’s. The aim of a CCFR scheme is not to replace the ambulance service, but ensure that in circumstances such as during cardiac arrest, defibrillation and other time-critical life-saving techniques can occur as soon as possible, maximizing the chance of the casualty’s survival. The member who is providing CFR cover for Tramore will carry a pager & will have the car, A Fiat Panda, which carries all the essential equipment required such as an AED (Defib), oxygen & other vital equipment.
Present at the launch of the scheme were Mr. Brian O’Shea TD, Comdr. Winnie Maye, National Director Order of Malta, Mr. Christy Power, A/Asst. Chief Ambulance Officer HSE National Ambulance Service, Mr. Declan Lonergan, HSE Ambulance Training Officer, Lieut. Elaine Piper, Officer in Charge Tramore, Lieut. Clive O’Regan, CFR Liaison Officer. There were representatives of the local emergency services, business community & local councillors as well as members of Order of Malta units from the South East, Paramedics from the Waterford Ambulance Service and Emergency Medical controllers from Ambulance Control who all joined with members of the Tramore unit to mark this special milestone.
On the night there was presentations made to the National Director & the HSE NAS to mark the occasion. There was a presentation made to Lieut. Clive O’Regan by Ms. Maria Brennan, daughter of Comdt. Paddy Godfrey RIP. Paddy was a long serving member of the unit who gave thousand of hours along with Nurse Anne Flynn over the years providing ambulance cover to Tramore. Both were remembered on the night. Maria travelled from Galway to be with us to present a cup which the Godfrey family had commissioned. The family wish was that a member of the Tramore unit would receive the cup for outstanding work done; Clive O’Regan is the first recipient of the award for his work done on the CFR programme as a member of the unit and a Paramedic with the HSE.



This scheme will help to strengthen the working relationship between the HSE NAS and Order of Malta Tramore which has been going on for over 60 years, and more importantly will increase the chances of survival for the community of Tramore should they need our help.

DubMedic

pingu2008 wrote: »

The members of Order of Malta Tramore, who are all voluntary have received specialist training and equipment so that they can provide an early intervention before the arrival of an Emergency Ambulance. They are all registered with PHECC as CFR’s and are now undergoing further training as EFR’s. The member who is providing CFR cover for Tramore will carry a pager & will have the car, A Fiat Panda, which carries all the essential equipment required such as an AED (Defib), oxygen & other.

Ahem.

Since when can CFR's give o2?.

&+ I'm not sure on the size of Tramore, but a Fiat Panda isn't exactly a rapid response vehicle is it?.


.

ch252

DubMedic wrote: »

Ahem.

Since when can CFR's give o2?.

&+ I'm not sure on the size of Tramore, but a Fiat Panda isn't exactly a rapid response vehicle is it?.


.

It says they're being trained as EFR's so maybe it's in preparation for them getting their efr certification?

Hooch

DubMedic wrote: »

Ahem.

Since when can CFR's give o2?.

&+ I'm not sure on the size of Tramore, but a Fiat Panda isn't exactly a rapid response vehicle is it?.


.

It should be noted that OMAC provide Tramore and the surrounding area with an AS1 ambulance service when a HSE ambulance is on a call or out of service. They are in my experience very good.

But as regards you post your right.....CFRs should NOT be adminstering O2 to anyone. It is after all a drug.

boomer_ie

DubMedic wrote: »

Ahem.

Since when can CFR's give o2?.

&+ I'm not sure on the size of Tramore, but a Fiat Panda isn't exactly a rapid response vehicle is it?.


.

I would suspect that the idea behind the Fiat panda was for responding within the tramore town area and its smaller size would make it easier for it to move through heavy traffic through fitting through smaller gaps.

That said Im not to impressed with the type of Lightbar selected as in my experience rotator lightbars throw out a weaker light than an LED based lightbar especially in daylight but thats down to personal opinion.

DubMedic

darragh-k wrote: »

It says they're being trained as EFR's so maybe it's in preparation for them getting their efr certification?

It might be in preparation, but if they use it and they are not passed off by PHECC because they have not recieved their cert from PHECC to say EFR then they are on their own in front of PHECC for Practicing outside of CFR Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Don't carry what you are not allowed to use.

.

DubMedic

boomer_ie wrote: »

I would suspect that the idea behind the Fiat panda was for responding within the tramore town area and its smaller size would make it easier for it to move through heavy traffic through fitting through smaller gaps.

That said Im not to impressed with the type of Lightbar selected as in my experience rotator lightbars throw out a weaker light than an LED based lightbar especially in daylight but thats down to personal opinion.

Small car from a small budget perhaps?.

.

DubMedic

nice guy always wrote: »

It should be noted that OMAC provide Tramore and the surrounding area with an AS1 ambulance service when a HSE ambulance is on a call or out of service. They are in my experience very good.

But as regards you post your right.....CFRs should NOT be adminstering O2 to anyone. It is after all a drug.

Yeah i know about the Ambulance being provided. Fair play to them.

Yep it's a drug, and if administered wrong ( Such as blasting someone's nostrils with 15 L/PM ) they would have some serious questions to answer at the ED & from PHECC.

The only drug CFR should be giving , and are allowed to give, is 300mg Aspirin, dissolved or chewable.

.

sgt.bilko

just to put a spanner in the works,

does CFR stand for Cardiac First Responder or Community First Responder?

DubMedic

sgt.bilko wrote: »

just to put a spanner in the works,

does CFR stand for Cardiac First Responder or Community First Responder?

Both , in this context.

Community First Responders acting in the role of Cardiac First Response.

.

shanemul

The car was chosen as it allows the driver to fit get around the town faster in heavy traffic especially during the busy summer months in Tramore.

This should also give people a better insight into the service

ScubaDave

Good video! Very informative!

Elessar

Well done Tramore unit. They have a few nurses I hear. I'm sure they've some EMTs now too.

shanemul

Yep thats right we do have some nurses as well as some emt's fairly soon as well as some paramedics

ch252

Good stuff, there is one in Blessington too, I was down there on holidays while they were fundraising for it