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Community Responders

"The Hurstpierpoint & Hassocks Community First Responders will endeavour to provide a vital link in the chain of survival, preserving life, preventing deterioration and promoting recovery of the patient prior to the arrival of the ambulance crew."   About us H.E.A.R.T – BEAT also known as the Hurstpierpoint & Hassocks Community First Responders was born from a public meeting which was held in Hurstpierpoint village in May 2006, this meeting was organised by the Hurstpierpoint Patients Participation Group. From this meeting H.E.A.R.T – Beat was born with initially 12 volunteers coming forward for training and progressing further to become a Community First Responder. All Community First Responders undergo an initial training programme, which is undertaken by South East Coast Ambulance Service training staff. When the training is complete then the Community First Responders are then required to pass an assessment and exam to a certificated standard before being allowed to operate within the community. Also during this period all Community First Responders are undergoing criminal records bureau checks and other checks before being allowed to go on the road. H.E.A.R.T – BEAT went live and started answering its first emergency calls in September 2006. All new Community First Responders for a period of time will go on duty with an experienced Community First Responder.  Community First Responders are completely unpaid. However, they are reimbursed mileage costs for attending incidents and mobile phone costs when communicating with Ambulance Control H.E.A.R.T - BEAT receive no funding from the ambulance service, all our equipment is either provided by our own fund-raising, public donations, or from local charitable organisations. Without this equipment we would not be able to provide a valuable service to you the general public of the BN6 area.. H.E.A.R.T - Beat have no blue lights or special privileges, but we respond in our own vehicles driving to the Highway Code. H.E.A.R.T – BEAT covers the BN6 postal code area & on occasions we may be sent to emergency calls outside our area. H.E.A.R.T – BEAT aims to provide the best cover possible with the resources available on that day. Duty Community First Responders are mobilised by the emergency dispatch centre at Lewes when a "999" call comes in which is deemed suitable for a responder to attend, the Community responders will also then be backed up by an ambulance and crew at the same time. All Community First Responders attend monthly training meetings located within the village, learning new skills and keeping our other skills up to date. We are not a replacement for the Ambulance Service, but we are a “vital link in the chain of survival” and are part of a team that provides life support to those in need. Click here to find out why there is a need for a responders team. The types of calls the team may be sent to by Ambulance control are as follows: - CARDIAC ARRESTS UNCONSCIOUS PATIENTS PATIENT SUFFERING CHEST PAINS BREATHING DIFFICULTIES EPILEPTIC FITS PATIENTS WHO ARE JUST FEELING UNWELL CEREBRAL VASCULAR ACCIDENTS (STROKES) MEDICAL COLLAPSES - ABDOMINAL PAINS, ETC. MINOR TRAUMA - FRACTURES, BLEEDING, ETC. CARE LINK ALARMS FALLS Interested in becoming a responder?   clickhere to find out how    Disclaimer 1.   The prime content and external links accessed via the H.E.A.R.T – BEAT (otherwise known as Hurstpierpoint & Hassocks Community First Responders) website www.hurstfirstresponders.co.uk  are intended for information purposes only. The material does not constitute professional advice and should not be relied on to either make (or decide against) any decision or action by users of the website. The links are not necessarily recommended or condoned by H.E.A.R.T - BEAT. 2.    Whilst the H.E.A.R.T - BEAT aims to highlight those websites that might be of use to you, we are not responsible for their accuracy or content (including advertising of products or services), or any difficulties in accessing them. Heart - Beat does not accept any liability whatsoever resulting from the use or inability to use the website www.hurstfirstresponders.co.uk its contents and links. 3.   The links and pages contained in this website may sometimes contain inaccuracies or typing mistakes. Whilst every effort is made to maintain the H.E.A.R.T - BEAT website and keep it up to date, pages and links may sometimes become out of date. All web addresses (URLs) are checked before publication, but may be changed or withdrawn subsequently without H.E.A.R.T - BEAT being notified. H.E.A.R.T – BEAT accepts no responsibility for failing to keep pages and links up to date and does not accept any liability resulting from this.      If you have any comments please send an email to webmaster@hurstfirstresponders.co.uk