Pre-Application Information

Are you thinking of joining our group of volunteers? We would love to welcome you on board, but first there are some things that you need to consider before you apply in order to ensure that this is a suitable role for you.

As a Community First Responder, you would be trained by the East Midlands Ambulance Service to provide emergency care for patients in our area. You will be involved in front line treatment of patients. Can you cope with blood, vomit and other nasties? Are you able to keep calm when patients and their relatives are panicking?

In most cases we attend patients in their home. You will see examples of hoarding, alcohol/drug abuse and unhygienic conditions, as well as mental health and gender issues, dementia and death. Are you able to remain focused and impartial in these situations?

Our role is a voluntary one, but it is not one where we can do an occasional shift as the mood takes us. EMAS expect a commitment of at least 16 hours every month. If this commitment is not met, a responder may be asked to stand down. This is because of the vital need for skills to be kept sharp in the life and death situations that we attend. In addition to your Responding hours, you will be expected to attend our monthly training meetings (usually on a Monday evening), and also to assist at some of our fundraising events.

Although we respond from our homes, or in some cases, work, our activities are restricted when on duty because we have to be able to respond immediately when we receive a call. This can mean missed meals, jobs left half done, conversations cut short and pets left with legs crossed. Are you able to make this commitment?

If you are still interested in this role after reading all of the above, then please email us on oundlecfr@gmail.com and we will arrange to meet with you to explain and start the application and training processes. For all of the issues and problems raised above, there is a fantastic sense of achievement and worth in our role. We meet amazing people and are able to bring comfort, reassurance and potentially life-saving treatment in difficult situations. If you can give the commitment, you will reap the rewards.