Responders can make difference between ‘life and death’

FIRST responders in Meredith have put a call out for more volunteers to assist them in this critical service.

The volunteers said they performed an important role for emergency services attending situations as well as provided a level of reassurance to the community.

Martin Peters, a responder with 15 years’ experience, said the Meredith Community Emergency Response Team attended calls to provide first aid and relay information to dispatched paramedics.

“It’s when you’ve got a kid with a really bad asthma attack or somebody that’s having a heart attack, the difference in an ambulance which might take 25 minutes to come from Sebastopol or a search which might turn up in five minutes, it’s jobs like that where we can make the difference in life and death,” he said.

“But it’s also, you’ve got somebody that’s got a nasty injury from a workplace accident or fallen off the skate park, being able to offer pain relief in that first five minutes, again, rather than waiting for 25 minutes, 30 minutes for an ambulance that may come from farther away, again, makes a big difference.”

David Relis, senior team manager for Ambulance Victoria in Golden Plains, said having first responders on the ground with qualified paramedics en route was important.

“It helps you prepare earlier because you’ve got eyes on the ground relaying that information to you,” he said.

Sandy Hoffman, who is in the process of completing training as a first responder, said they provided important help to those new to regional and rural communities.

Lynn Heard, who has been with the service since 2008, said responders made a difference.

“I think you just feel purpose that you’ve been able to assist somebody,” she said.

For more information on how to volunteer and the role’s requirements, visit ambulance.vic.gov.au/become-first-responder.