First Responders Presentation

On September 23rd Kettering & District Lions club made a presentation to the Barton & Cranford First Responders, who are a team of volunteers who attend medical emergencies in their local area, in two villages on the outskirts of the town. They are alerted by the ambulance service following 999 calls, and administer first aid until the ambulance arrives, which takes longer in rural areas. They are trained by the ambulance service, but they have to buy all their own equipment, even their uniforms, and the Lions donated their first automatic defibrillator when they formed in 2007. They now need pulseoximeters, which measure the oxygen level in the patient’s blood, and the Lions have donated £450 for them to purchase four of these units so they are available to all of the team for call-outs.

The Lions president, John Geary said that the 1st Responders were a really deserving cause, as they have to raise all the money they need for any equipment by themselves, as they do not receive any grants or funding. The Lions think that it is very appropriate that the money we raise in the Kettering area is donated to a group who serve and help the local community in their own time.

Fiona Piechowski, the spokesperson for the Responders said that they were very pleased to receive the money to buy the pulseoximeters as they were so useful in ensuring that the correct level of oxygen is given, and that they are now able to receive training in their use.

The Responders are looking for new members, and anybody interested in finding out more information about this rewarding activity can phone 01536 522635