Mayor of Raunds hands cheque to 'invaluable' first responders to help volunteer-led organisation continue to save lives
East Northants First Responders has been handed £500 on behalf of Raunds Town Council to help the group continue its life-saving work.
East Northants First Responders were awarded the cash grant to fund the purchase of a training defibrillator to help develop the skills of the charity’s volunteer responders and support defibrillator awareness.
The cheque was presented by current mayor of Raunds, Cllr Bill Cross.
He said: “The First Responders provide an invaluable service to our community, often being among the first to arrive when someone is experiencing a medical emergency. This grant will enable them to purchase a training defibrillator, helping volunteers and others to build the confidence needed to respond effectively in an emergency.
“We hope that this equipment will have a lasting benefit for our residents by supporting the development of potentially life-saving skills.
"I am very pleased that the town council has been able to support the fantastic work the First Responders carry out.”
Volunteers from the first responders are dispatched by the EMAS Emergency Operations Centre in the same way as an ambulance, having been trained by EMAS, and are often being the first to attend emergency 999 calls arriving before an ambulance. In a serious medical emergency, the actions taken in the first few minutes can be critical.