Friday 29th January 2016 – 3.10pm – Jamie Arrowsmith.
A generous donation from the operators of the M6 Toll has seen some Community First Responders (CFRs) provided with pre-paid Toll Tags.
The donation from Midland Expressway Ltd (MEL) will ensure CFRs are able to respond to call outs in the quickest possible time with groups including Burntwood & District, Rapid Aid, Brewood, TAME, Trent Valley, Penkridge & District and Rugeley benefiting.
Community First Responders are members of the public from all walks of life who give up their spare time to help make a difference in their communities. They offer an invaluable service by way of helping to reach those people suffering from medical emergencies in the remote rural communities, prior to the arrival of an ambulance. For many illnesses or injuries, the first few minutes are critical and simple interventions can be performed in order to save lives or prevent disability.
Rachel Graffy, West Midlands Ambulance Service Community Response Manager, said: “This offer of support from M6toll is great news for the CFRs and can only enhance the service already provided by the volunteers.”
Karen Johnstone, MEL’s Social Committee Member, said: “The CFRs provide an amazing service; assisting the wider ambulance service. The volunteers give their time to train and man the vehicles.
“Providing them with pre-paid tags was an obvious choice for us as they need to get to any casualties in as little time as possible, using the M6toll as an alternative route to their destination could save crucial time and save lives.”
The tag is a small electronic device which is fitted to a vehicle’s windscreen and allows users to pre-pay for passage on the M6toll and pass through a dedicated lane, usually without the need to stop.
MEL’s Social Committee is always on the lookout for local charities and community projects to support. To register your charity or community project for consideration, visit www.m6toll.co.uk.
Ends
Notes to Editors:
This press release has been issued in conjunction with Midland Express Ltd.
If used, please credit the images Midland Express Ltd.
Picture captions:
Top (group pic) – From the left – Rachel Barron (Burntwood and District), Eddie Malpass (Burntwood and District), Karen Johnstone (MEL’s Social Committee member), Andrea Richards (Burntwood and District), Ann Peters (Brewood), Keith Dawson (TAME), Mark Walker (Trent Valley), Matt Heward (WMAS Community Response Manager – Staffordshire), Mike Tym (Penkridge and District), Sean Cooper (Rugeley), Fay Cooper (Rugeley) and Paul Dadge (Burntwood and District).
Row 2 – (l-r) Mike Tym and Ann Peters.
Row 3 – (l-r) Rachel Barron & Andrea Richards and Sean Cooper & Fay Cooper.
Row 4 – (l-r) Mark Walker and Keith Dawson.