Hampshire first responders get new vehicles to help respond to emergencies

THEY are first on scene in an emergency – and now community responders in the county have been rewarded for their dedication with new vehicles.
By Millie Salkeld
Published 18th Nov 2020, 11:00 GMT
Fareham first responders, from left, Andrew Robinson, Rob Barlett, Derek Meek and Tracy Gregory with their newly donated vehicle. Pictured in Segensworth with some of the equipment they carry in the foreground Picture: Chris MoorhouseFareham first responders, from left, Andrew Robinson, Rob Barlett, Derek Meek and Tracy Gregory with their newly donated vehicle. Pictured in Segensworth with some of the equipment they carry in the foreground Picture: Chris Moorhouse
Fareham first responders, from left, Andrew Robinson, Rob Barlett, Derek Meek and Tracy Gregory with their newly donated vehicle. Pictured in Segensworth with some of the equipment they carry in the foreground Picture: Chris Moorhouse

Those in need of urgent medical assistance in Hampshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire and Hampshire may well find that it is a ommunity Responder in a Dacia Duster coming to their aid after South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) bought 40 cars.

Funded by South Central Ambulance Charity, the vehicles will be used by specially-trained volunteers who provide a rapid response to many 999 calls where an ambulance is requested.

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Rob Bartlett, from Whiteley, has been a first responder for three years after wanting to help out in the community.

The 35-year-old said: ‘We are often with patients starting that first, often live saving care, ahead of an ambulance because we are sent to incidents close to us.

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‘Most of the time we turn up in our own cars but it is great that we now have these cars so people know who we are when we are driving around and when we turn up at incidents to help.’

The bespoke vehicles include additional lighting and storage solutions for such essentials as a defibrillator, oxygen, masks, bandages, Entonox and other medical supplies.

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Vanessa Casey, chief executive of the South Central Ambulance Charity, said: ‘It was fast becoming apparent that a number of the vehicles used by our volunteers were no longer reliable or cost effective to run and there was no replacement scheme in place, so the ideal solution was for us to invest in a brand new fleet.

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‘We’re a charity though, so it’s essential we stretch our funds as far as possible. With the added support given to us by Dacia UK we were able to secure a fleet that was both affordable and reliable. It’s there to do a function above all else, but feedback from our volunteers has been excellent in terms of the drive and feel.’

Luke Broad, head of brand at Dacia UK, added: ‘It’s fantastic to see the Dacia Duster take on such an important role and see how confident the Trust and its volunteers are in its ability.’

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Related topics:HampshireOxfordshireBuckinghamshire

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