Community First Responders (CFRs) are volunteers who respond to emergency 999 calls within their local community. In the West Midlands, we are proud to be supported by more than 500 active CFRs.
Volunteer CFRs are generally lay people who have received medical training from their local ambulance service. They respond when available, in their own time and without pay, to emergency 999 calls in both urban and rural areas. They are not a substitute for ambulance staff, however they provide life-saving skills to patients in their local community until an emergency ambulance vehicle arrives.
As well as responding to emergency 999 calls, CFRs promote health and wellbeing in their local community by raising the awareness of the importance of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of a defibrillator.
CFR volunteers are normally affiliated to a local charitable scheme within their community. All CFR schemes are designed to be financially self-supporting. Although the Ambulance Service will provide all necessary support, training and consumables, CFRs must raise funds for their uniform, equipment and vehicles. CFR schemes are usually involved in a variety of fundraising events to support their voluntary role in their local community.