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Standards & Policies

September 2008

DRIVING TO THE CALL ADDRESS

STANDARD
The First Responder Service will at all times try to ensure the safety of the First Responders. To that end, appropriate equipment and training will be provided. Policies will be written and amended from time to time to take account of changing standards and conditions. Each First Responder is the primary person responsible for their own safety.

POLICY

  1. All First Responders must be fit to fulfil their role, if activated. This may include removing oneself from on-call rosters if feeling unwell. It also means each responder must absolutely refrain from alcohol for 12 hours prior to and during their period of on-call.
  2. When responding to any incident, day or night, the Hi-visibility jacket and identification card must be worn.
  3. Appropriate body substance isolation equipment must be worn before initiating any contact with casualties, where blood or any other body fluids may be involved.
  4. All contaminated equipment that has been in contact with any casualty must be disposed of in a yellow hazardous material bag and given to the ambulance crew for disposal. Items include for example: (a) Pocket mask (b) Oxygen masks (c) Suction collection containers/bottle & catheters (d) Gloves (e) Dressings (f) Face masks

 

CHEST PAIN

STANDARD
Casualties experiencing chest pain of possible cardiac origin will receive appropriate treatment as per standing order. This will ensure that the casualty has been offered the optimum level of care.

POLICY

  1. Place the casualty in a comfortable position.
  2. Assessment of the casualty following the standard primary and secondary assessment.
  3. Administer oxygen as per standing orders.
  4. Ask the casualty if they have a heart problem and, if they have, ask have they taken their GTN spray, if prescribed (record on.the Cardiac First Response Report). If they have not taken GTN, encourage them to take it (NB: GTN is self administered only) as prescribed by their General Practitioner.
  5. Reassure the casualty and their relatives mainly by adopting a professional approach.
  6. Update ambulance control on the casualty's condition (when possible)
  7. Monitor breathing, pulse, and level of consciousness.


CPR & ADVISORY EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATION

STANDARD
Casualties suffering a cardiac arrest will receive CCFR care directed towards restoring normal breathing, circulation, and consciousness. Casualties who go into cardiac arrest will have the defibrillator attached as soon as cardiac arrest is established.

POLICY
Assessment of the casualty, following the standard precautions, i.e.

Casualty Primary Assessment

Following any mobilisation of the Community Cardiac First Responder team for a confirmed cardiac arrest - the CCFR Team who attended the scene should meet for appraisal of the event and a defusing session. The Ambulance Service Co-ordinator may attend, if required. The Ambulance Service "Peer Support" team may be available to any Team member who feels they need their assistance.


Advisory External Defibrillator Standing Orders

Hi-visibility jacket and Identity badge / card must be worn by Cardiac Community First Responder at all times whilst operational
In the event of you attending a cardiac arrest as a CCFR you are authorised to do the following;

 


Oxygen Safety and Administration

SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS;

EQUIPMENT ASSEMBLY

WHEN TO USE OXYGEN
The following Casualties should be administered oxygen:

HOW TO ADMINISTER OXYGEN;
Pocket mask for non breathing casualties

Partial non re-breather mask for breathing casualties.


Suctioning of the upper airway in cardiac arrest

EQUIPMENT;

INDICATIONS FOR USE.

TECHNIQUE

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE VOLUNTEER AND THE SNEEM CARDIAC FIRST RESPONDER PROGRAMME

This document is intended to be an understanding between the Individual First Responder and the  Sneem Cardiac First Responder Programme

Following the successful completion of the Heartsaver AED course, and. One may be eligible to take part in a CCFR Programme within one's local area (subject to satisfactory training efforts). One may be expected to be available for an "On-Call" rota and may be assigned to an incident on an "as and when required basis". There is no obligation on the CCFR to accept an assignment which may be offered to them. Each assignment is self contained and once the assignment is over, the CCFR is not obliged to undertake any further assignments
If arrangements have been made for a CCFR to undertake a pre-arranged period of on-call and they then find that they are unable to attend, we require that the CCFR contact the local Co-ordinator at the earliest opportunity so that a possible replacement may be found. There is no entitlement to travel or other expenses incurred by the CCFR, Occupational Sick Pay, Occupational Maternity Leave/Pay or any other form of paid leave. Nothing in this clause, however, will affect any right conferred by statute.
Whilst undertaking any assignment for Sneem Cardiac First Responds Service, the CCFR should comply with the general protocols, standards and conduct applicable to the area in which they are operating.
Copies of the rules and regulations and Code of Practice are contained within the CCFR Handbook. The volunteer CCFR must further comply with such other reasonable instructions as they may be given from time to time. If they fail to comply with applicable protocols, standards and conduct, or any reasonable instruction given to them, the Programme has the right to remove them from the register of Volunteers.
A CCFR must notify their nominated Co-ordinator in writing if they are no longer available for participation and no longer wish to remain registered as a Volunteer. Where a CCFR Volunteer has not undertaken an on-call period for at least six months they may be deleted from the Register unless they have reached a prior agreement with their local Co-ordinator or the Ambulance Service.
The Sneem Cardiac First Responder Programme may remove a CCFR from the Register if they fail to comply with the standards, protocols and appropriate conduct which have been laid down by the Sneem Cardiac First Responder Programme or if they no longer fulfil the requirements needed to be a registered member.
For the avoidance of doubt, it is agreed and understood that registration as a Volunteer does not constitute a contract of employment between the CCFR and the Sneem Cardiac First Responder Programme.
Registering as a Volunteer does not denote any obligation to provide the CCFR with emergency calls nor does it denote any obligation on the part of the CCFR to accept any assignments offered.
The Programme reserves the right to alter these terms from time to time at its discretion.
It is advised that any person considering becoming a member of the CCFR Group would read this document carefully and give it their full consideration. If any clarification is required concerning any aspect of this document please do not hesitate to contact the CCFR Co-ordinator.
After full consideration of this document and you have decided to apply to become a Community Cardiac First Responder it would be appreciated if you would sign and return the forms enclosed, accepting these terms and conditions to your local CCFR Group Co-ordinator.

As the process for the management for the Community Responder initiative has been formalised, there are statutory responsibilities to maintain accurate and relevant records and to ensure that processes are in place to sustain these measures for the future.
In order to comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act (1988 and 2003), I should be grateful if you would confirm the following items of Personal Information. This is to ensure that the information held is accurate.