A new pilot scheme which will see firefighters responding to medical emergencies has got underway in Long Sutton.
Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue is working more closely with East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) to respond to life-threatening emergencies as part of the 12-month pilot Joint Ambulance Conveyance Project (JACP).
It is hoped the project will help cut the length of time some people have to wait for an ambulance in an emergency by using “fire ambulances”, manned by firefighters to attend some 999 calls.
It is being run in partnership with EMAS and Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Service (LIVES).
The project builds on Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue’s existing co-responder scheme in which on-call firefighters from 21 stations across the county respond to medical emergencies to deliver first aid, provide oxygen therapy and administer defibrillation and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
As part of the pilot, Long Sutton’s co-responders, who attended over 450 co-responder calls last year, will go out to medical incidents in an ambulance vehicle.
At the same time, an EMAS paramedic will also respond in a fast response vehicle.
If the paramedic decides the patient needs to go to hospital the co-responders will now have the ability to take the patient to hospital, rather than having to wait until an EMAS ambulance arrives.
Richard King, Watch Manager at Long Sutton, said: “The crew are fully on board with this pilot.
“By getting a patient to a hospital faster, we can really help those who are in a life threatening condition and increase their chance of survival.
“We have received additional medical training in preparation for the pilot which has further developed our skills. These can potentially be applied at every incident we attend.”
Steve Pratten, community response manager for EMAS, said: “I have every confidence that this joint initiative will be a success.
“We will be closely monitoring the progress of the pilot and ensuring any lessons learned are fed back as appropriate.”
Nick Borrill, deputy chief fire officer for Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, added: “We are now in the position to start testing the concept and are confident it will help improve outcomes for patients in Lincolnshire.
“The pilot will be run in three areas and we anticipate that it will start in Woodhall Spa next month and in Stamford by early November.”
