Life saving charity FastAid recruits and equips Community First Responders (CFRs) throughout Birmingham & Solihull. All CFRs are volunteers, trained to a nationally recognised standard and despatched to 999 emergency calls by West Midlands Ambulance Service when they are the closest resource, along with an ambulance as soon as one is available. Being ‘local’, they can be on scene quickly to start lifesaving treatment, begin clinical care and provide reassurance to patient and relatives before the ambulance arrives. In life threatening emergencies, the time saved can be critical. Amongst the FastAid members are a doctor, nurses, paramedics and ambulance technicians as well as highly trained volunteers of all backgrounds and ages. Annually our CFRs attend more than 1500 emergency 999 calls and are first on scene in 90%.
Andy Jeynes, Community Response Manager for West Midlands Ambulance said
“FastAid is a group of incredibly dedicated volunteers who give their time freely to serve the communities where they live and work. They are there for everyone, often at a time of greatest need. They do make a real difference and they do save lives. What better gift can there be but the gift of life. FastAid is the only CFR group based in Solihull & Birmingham which is supported by West Midlands Ambulance Service because they excel in their support for our Ambulance Service”
As well as comunnity response, FastAid provide event first aid cover as well as providing maintance services for various public
access defibrillation sites.
FastAid volunteers also provide free awareness sessions in the community, teaching lifesaving skills such as cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR); use of public access defibrillators, what to do if someone has a heart attack, is choking or bleeding. Annually, as part of the ‘Kids Saves Lives’ initiative, over 1,000 school children are trained in CPR.
We have 70 responders currently spread across the Birmingham and Solihull region within which FastAid operate 5 response veichles.
Interested in hosting FastAid to provide medical cover at your event or looking to hold community CPR awareness days, get in touch using the below form.
