Since going live in July 2006 Brassington NFR have attended 19 incidents; 18 category A and 1 category B.

The group was formed in response to concerns about response times of ambulances coming to this picturesque but remote village. Despite being a fairly small group, just 16 operational members initially, Brassington NFR has provided virtually 24 hour cover from day one.

The first call out justified the both the concerns and the training of the members. An elderly farmer on a remote farm outside the village had hit his head on a on a piece of equipment on the farm. He was lying on the ground and drifting in and out of consciousness. With their local knowledge the First Responder team were at the farm in minutes, there they were able to administer basic first aid and oxygen therapy. Because of the location and difficulty in finding the farm, the ambulance did not arrive for another 55 minutes.

In another incident, a middle aged diabetic lady who had not taken her insulin started feeling unwell and losing consciousness. Again a Responder was on the scene within minutes and was able to offer oxygen therapy. As she regained consciousness the patient started to vomit blood. The First Responder offered help and reassurance until the ambulance arrived, 50 minutes later.

When a 16 year-old boy in the village had a severe asthma attack the First Responder on call at time knew the boy, his parents and the house location. She was able to deliver oxygen therapy to the boy and reassurance to his parents during the hour and fifteen minutes that it took for the ambulance to arrive.

All of these cases illustrate how valuable a First Responder group can be in a rural community.

The people of Brassington, both individuals and local businesses, have been very supportive of the group’s efforts. Their donations and fund-raising events have enabled to group to buy three defibrillators; which has made organising the rota very much easier! In addition, the group has enhanced the sense of community within the village and, at the time of writing, the next set of volunteers are being trained to join the group and take some of the pressure of the existing members.

During the initial phases there were those who said that a First Responder group would never be justified in a small village like Brassington. The experience of the first 10 months has proved just the opposite. First Responder groups offer a particular benefit in remote locations such as our own.