We are trained for and can be sent to many different types of jobs including but not limited to, Chest Pains, Difficulty Breathing, Strokes, Falls, Major Trauma, Diabetic emergencies and Cardiac Arrests, we can be sent to both Adult & Paediatric patients (aged 2 and above).
We travel in our own vehicles (marked with magnetic signs), but do not use blue lights or sirens, and we must follow the speed limits and all other rules of the road.
We do not carry any drugs, but we do carry Oxygen, Glucogel (for diabetics), dressings, bandages, Tourniquet's, Airway management equipment, Defibrillator, Thermometer and a Pulsox device (for determining the patients pulse and oxygen levels) and a blood pressure monitor.
We are not only there for the patient, but also for other family members, if we have time at an incident we will speak to them and try to explain what is happening, whilst the Ambulance crews are dealing with the patient.
We find that simply keeping everyone updated about what's happening can help them at what is often a very difficult time for them, making them a Cuppa , offering support and and simply holding their hand can works wonders.
Many of the team are also trained to attend "Falls" calls, and using our training and some specialised equipment called a Raizer chair, we may sometimes be sent to help someone who has fallen and who has not injured themselves get up off the floor, and after our checks are made, we can get them off the floor, and if we are sure they will be safe, we can then discharge them (with the consent of a paramedic / doctor on the phone) and so they will not need an ambulance or a trip to hospital.
We are also able to train other people in CPR and the use of Defibrillators, and we often go to schools, and community groups to teach these life saving techniques.
If you are a group or organisation in Felixstowe who would like us to come and speak to you about what we do or perhaps teach your group CPR or how to use a defibrillator please contact us here
Some of our team are registered with the global organisation Goodsam as Responders, and if we wish we can be logged into the Goodsam Responder app on our personal phones, if we are close (based on our phones GPS position) the Ambulance service can dispatch us to a Major category 1 incident such as Cardiac arrest or Major Trauma, even without our normal kits we can assist any ambulance crews or start CPR before the Ambulance arrives.
We can be alerted to these emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.