The Mid Down & Lisburn District is celebrating two years of lifesaving service since the launch of its Community First Responders (CFR) scheme on November 14, 2022. Established by Graham Walsh and cardiac arrest survivor Lynda Donaldson, the volunteer-led initiative aims to enhance emergency care across Lisburn & Castlereagh and surrounding areas.
The scheme trains local volunteers to provide immediate assistance during life-threatening medical emergencies, such as cardiac arrests, strokes, and seizures, while waiting for professional emergency services to arrive. Responders are dispatched by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) and are equipped with lifesaving tools like automated external defibrillators (AEDs), crucial for delivering care in the critical minutes before an ambulance reaches the scene.
The primary goal of the CFR scheme is to bridge the gap between the onset of an emergency and the arrival of professional help, a vital service when NIAS response times can be longer and with Lagan Valley Hospital closed on evenings and weekends. “We are incredibly proud to have launched this scheme, which will undoubtedly save lives,” said Graham Walsh, the scheme’s coordinator.
The success of the program relies heavily on community support, including donations from local business and main sponsorship from Stole Insurance along with the support of the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council. Volunteers undergo monthly training, supported by Avonmore Training Solutions Ltd, to ensure they are prepared for the challenging situations they may encounter.
Looking ahead, the scheme plans to expand, with ten new volunteers joining this year, bringing the total to 30. Since its inception, the CFR scheme has responded to over 1,300 emergencies, providing crucial support to the NIAS.
For more information, visit www.middownandlisburncfr.org