New uniforms for ‘First Response’

First Response is a registered charity that currently supports ten Ambulance Service NHS Trusts on a national basis. The schemes provide dedicated volunteers from HM Forces that help to provide intermediate life support to patients in the local community suffering from potentially life-threatening conditions. The teams that provide support to the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust have now been operational with personnel from RAF Honington and RAF Marham since July 2001.

The distinctive hospital green and black uniforms worn by this group of co-responders will have been seen throughout the counties of Suffolk and Norfolk by frontline crews over the years.

In order to meet the requirements of the Charity’s national framework Responders trained to IHCD First Person on Scene (Intermediate) syllabus have also been given the title ‘Emergency Responder’. This allows the Charity to differentiate the various levels of knowledge and experience with Community First Responders, Paramedics and Doctors also carrying out duties within England and Scotland on behalf of the Charity.

The picture above shows Deputy Responder Manager for the East of England, Phil Thomas, with the old uniform and personnel from the Honington and Marham teams along with Paramedics Paul Goodchild and Andy Sprake. To coincide with the completion of the latest FPoS(I) training course conducted by Paul & Andy all Emergency Responders representing First Response, as agents of the Trust, will be wearing this uniform.



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