Quick thinking Community First Responder saves a life in Stadhampton

Quick thinking Community First Responder (CFR) Ali Smith was first on the scene to a 65 year old man in Stadhampton, Oxfordshire described by his wife in a 999 emergency call as collapsed, not conscious and not breathing.

Ali arrived on the scene to find the patient’s wife doing CPR whilst on the phone to South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust’s (SCAS) Emergency Operations Control (EOC). Ali did a quick assessment to ascertain that the patient was in cardiac arrest, put the defibrillator pads on him and administered oxygen. The automatic defibrillator indicated she should shock him. So Ali made sure his wife was clear and shocked him before continuing CPR and breathing as his wife went to greet the emergency ambulance crew at the door.

SCAS Emergency Medical Technician Matthew Farrington continues the story: ‘In the short time it took us to get there Ali did well in providing emergency treatment to the patient. The patient was cyanosed, in respiratory and cardiac arrest with his pupils fixed and dilated when we arrived. Ali had deployed one shock to the patient 30 seconds prior to our arrival and CPR was on-going. ‘It took us 9 minutes to arrive at this rural location from Oxford and Ali’s intervention ensured that the patient was still alive when we reached him and improved his chances of survival.’

Shortly after the emergency ambulance crew arrived on scene Helimed 24, Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance arrived. Ali assisted both the SCAS and Helimed crews with chest compression and breathing support for the patient. A decision was made that the quickest way to convey the patient to hospital was by road. The Helimed Crew went with the patient in the ambulance to the JR whilst the helicopter flew on to meet them. Ali stayed behind to clear the scene and explain what was happening to his wife.

One of the Helimed crew said of Ali: ‘She had established a great airway and CPR management prior to our arrival. Ali remained fully involved with the patient helping to ensure he arrived at John Radcliffe Hospital Oxford with good levels of oxygenation and was able to be taken direct to the Cath Lab for life saving treatment.’

The patient has since made an excellent recovery and is now back home. There are currently over 250 volunteer Community First Responders in Oxfordshire, all from local communities, all trained to attend a wide range of emergency calls in their local neighbourhoods and to provide essential life saving treatment like CPR and defibulation whilst an ambulance is en route. Their early intervention has proved most valuable, especially in rural and remote areas where early treatment is beneficial in ensuring the best outcome for patients.

You can make a valuable contribution to your local community by becoming a Community First Responder, or by making a donation now. To find out more visit cfr@scas.nhs.uk or telephone 0800 587 0207.

Last word goes to Ali Smith who first responded to an advert in a local shop and has been one of SCAS’s Community First Responders for almost 3 years: ‘I couldn’t have done what I did as quickly without help from the patient’s wife. She was amazing.’ The whole incident is a great display of the chain of survival working wonders, right from the start in EOC through initial CFR attendance followed by further life saving intervention from the emergency ambulance crew and air ambulance through to arrival at John Radcliffe Hospital, continued life saving treatment from the hospital’s Cath Lab and continuing treatment of this extremely fortunate 65 year old gentleman at home and close to home.