Region needs first responders

The Sunrise Health Region is recruiting volunteer First Responders in the Foam Lake, Theodore and Esterhazy area.

The First Responder program was designed to assist rural communities and municipalities in timely response by trained emergency personnel. The volunteers attend to an emergency and provide trained intervention until the ambulance and/or other emergency response personnel arrive. Equipment to deal with emergencies is made available to each community's/municipality's team.

The First Responder program was developed by Saskatchewan Health and the Sunrise Health Region Emergency Medical Services Dept. maintains and administers the First Responder program at the regional level.

"People in communities where there is a First Responder Team tend to feel safer, knowing there are local people who are trained in emergency response and can help when needed," says Director of Sunrise Health Region Emergency Medical Services, Derek Keller. "We are really hoping that people in Esterhazy and Foam Lake will respond to the need to develop First Responder teams in their communities and area."

First Responders are activated only when an ambulance dispatch centre receives an emergency call for help in the form of a 9-1-1 emergency call. The emergency situation might include a medical emergency, such as a heart attack or a diabetic coma, or a serious injury, such as a vehicle or farm accident, in the First Responder's geographical area. When the dispatch centre receives a call, and it is determined that a First Responder is required, the dispatcher will contact the First Responder(s) in the geographical area. First Responders are only called if the dispatcher determines that it is a safe and controlled incident.

"First Responders are a real asset to rural communities," states Keller. "Often the First Responder is the first on the scene and can make a real difference, sometimes a life-saving difference, in the time before an ambulance arrives."

Volunteer First Responders must be at least 18 years of age and register with the Sunrise Health Region Volunteer Resources Dept. First Responder training is provided by the Sunrise Health Region and includes an initial 40 hour training program and up-to-date CPR training. Volunteer First Responders are required to maintain strict client confidentiality at all times.

For more information, contact Derek Keller at 306-786-0105 or [email protected] or Suzette Szumutku, Director of Volunteer Resources at 306-786-0468 or [email protected]