Community First Responders

The Isle of Man Lions Club has supported the Island’s Community First Responders ('CFRs') by providing the funding for eight fully kitted-out responder kits.

Each kit contains vital equipment such as an automated defibrillator which can restart the heart, together with other first aid equipment such as oxygen and practically everything that is needed in a an emergency.

Recruited and trained by St John Ambulance, CFRs are despatched by the Isle of Man Ambulance and Paramedic Service to anyone who takes ill, often arriving ahead of an ambulance. There are 49 responders on the Island, all volunteers, and last year they provided over 19,000 hours of emergency cover.

Gerry Jones, Island Co-ordinator for the CFRs, said:

'This equipment means that more of our responders will now have their own kit whereas before the Lions Club made their generous donation, a lot of the responders had to pass on their kits at the end of their duty.

With such a comprehensive amount of equipment contained in the kits, the price of them was pretty steep and these eight kits have come in at a cost of around £20,000 and, as anyone who tries to raise funds will know, that takes a massive amount of effort and dedication, so we cannot emphasise just how grateful we are to the Lions Club and just how much this gift means to CFRs and St John Ambulance.'

President of the Isle of Man Lions Club Dennis Kneale said:

'As a service organisation, we are aware of just how much work the CFRs do for the benefit of the local community and we are very glad that we could make this donation which will make such a difference.

Our club is a part of a world-wide service organisation with more than 1.4 million members in more than 200 countries. The motto of the Lions Club is “We Serve” and we do our very best to live up to this here in the Island. We have an active role providing both practical assistance as well as financial help from providing stair gates and white goods to building a sensory garden at Newlands. In addition to our normal charity work, we run Manx Children in Need Appeal where funds raised are used to help underprivileged children and young people together with their families.

Like the CFRs, all our members give their time voluntarily and all funds raised are used without any administration deductions. We try to make a difference for the benefit of the residents of the Isle of Man. It is not all work and no play as there is an active social side, too.'

For further details about joining the Isle of Man Lions Club, making a donation or helping in any way you can, then phone +44 1624 661838 or go to the website www.iomlions.org

If you would like further details about the St John Ambulance Isle of Man or to find out how to sign up for first aid courses, volunteer or support its work via donations, please ring +44 1624 674387 or visit www.sja.org.uk/sja/counties/isle-of-man.aspx

If you are interested becoming a First Responder then you can contact:

Gerry Jones,
Island Co-ordinator,
Community First Responders
+44 7624 371296
gj88@hotmail.com