In the case of cardiac arrest every second counts in restoring the patient to health, and often the minutes before the arrival of a ambulance following a '999' call can be vital. This concept initiated the First Responder schemes, where volunteers with basic first aid training are then trained in the use of the Automatic External Defibrillator (AED). They are able to attend in the minutes before paramedics arrive and begin life saving treatment immediately.

                      

The first scheme was launched officially in Trimdon, County Durham in December 2000 by the Rt. Hon, Tony Blair, MP. Since then, many schemes have have been started in a variety of rural locations and public places including airports, shopping centres and university campus'.

Research in Seattle, United States in 1985 proved that victims of cardiac arrest had a 21.5% chance of survival. After introduction of the First Responder Scheme, the survival rate rose to a staggering 89%.

The experience in the case of our group, is that the time taken for an emergency paramedic ambulance crew to reach a suspected cardiac arrest, can vary between 15 and 45 minutes. This depends on the available ambulance's location, and the location of the patient. Local community First Responders aim to be with a patient within 3-4 minutes of the emergency call, and a number of people now owe their lives to the speed, efficiency and dedication of Community First Responders, who can hopefully maintain a patient's life till arrival of the expert Paramedic Ambulance crews, who will then take over the patient's care and treatment.