Unfortunately the ambulance service cannot get to each and every 999 call in the first few minutes,. Geographical and time restraints mean that rural areas can sometimes see longer than expected delays reaching patients.

The role of the CFR is to provide, sometimes vital, assistance within the first few minutes of an emergency. 

The types of medical emergency which a First Responder is trained for and may attend include:

Category "1" calls - (serious, life threatening)

•Cardiac arrest

•Unconscious and collapsed patients

•Chest pains (e.g. heart attacks and acute angina)

•Breathing difficulties (e.g. asthma, acute on-set bronchitis/emphysema)

•Diabetic emergencies (e.g. hypoglycaemia)

•Seizures or convulsions (e.g. epilepsy)

•Stroke (CVA)

•Anaphylaxis (allergic reaction)

•Choking patients