We are proud to report that our Co-ordinator, Mike, has been awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2018 published last month for Services to Emergency Response and Fundraising.

Speaking after the award was announced Mike said, ”It is an honour and a privilege to serve the community in this area at times when they are facing a medical emergency and to be able to offer initial help and care before the ambulance arrives. I was speechless when I heard news of this award and I am proud and humbled to be recognised for doing something that is so rewarding in itelf. But I could not do, what I do, without the support of my wife Linda, and the other volunteer responders who serve this community so well”

We are now all equipped with additional observation equipment to use when with a casualty. Gaining information on temperature, blood sugar, blood pressure etc before the arrival of the ambulance, saves the clinicians time and gives them a head start on deciding the best course of action to take in respect of the patient.

In the coming few weeks the first of the team will start their additional voluntary training to achieve a nationally recognised qualification in Ambulance First Responding. This new qualification is achieved by showing the required degree of both theoretical and practical knowledge required to meet the high standard. Those who wish can undertake this training and we are also looking forward to receiving the training in “Falls” recovery and manual handling.

Keep cool where you can, drink plenty of water and apply sun block to avoid the most common heat related problems during this wonderful spell of hot weather.