From Monday 23 May, Surrey firefighters will increase their involvement in life-saving medical emergencies by responding to a broader range of serious calls in partnership with South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb).
The trial, which began last September, initially involved firefighters attending only cardiac arrest cases. The expansion means firefighters will now also respond to incidents such as seizures and unconscious patients.
All participating firefighters have volunteered for Immediate Emergency Care Responder training developed by SECAmb. This specialist training enables them to provide critical frontline treatment before ambulance crews arrive, similar to the role of SECAmb’s Community First Responders (CFRs).
Ambulance clinicians continue to be dispatched alongside fire co-responders or CFRs, ensuring that expert care reaches patients quickly. This trial is part of SECAmb’s broader initiative to improve emergency response times and patient outcomes across the region.
Originally published by UKNIP.
