Ellon volunteers recognised for pandemic response
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Ellon First Responders have been recognised for their efforts throughout the Covid pandemic.
Alongside other First Responder groups across Scotland, Ellon volunteers were presented with medallions as a thank you from the NHS for all of the support they have given them over the past year.
The presentation was made at a group training session by Scottish Ambulance Service's community resilience facilitator Donald Montgomery.
The group were first suspended last March as the pandemic took hold, however were reinstated to relieve some of the pressure from the NHS once appropriate training and PPE could be provided to volunteers to allow them to work as safely as possible while coronavirus was rife.
First Responders are volunteers who support the work of the Scottish Ambulance Service by being the first on the scene to incidents where emergency operators have been advised of cardiac problems or breathing problems or where they suspect a cardiac arrest may have occurred.
First Responders do not respond to incidents like road accidents.
Reducing the time it takes for a trained individual to arrive at the scene and take appropriate action increases the chances of survival.
Local co-ordinator Kenny Florence said: "My team here in Ellon are brilliant.
"The coins were awarded to us for our service, just as a little thank you from the NHS.
"We have always had a lot of support from the community which is really appreciated and all of the support to our fundraising has allowed us to buy a second kit which will help us in reducing the response time for cardiac arrests which is critical, that few minutes less in arriving can really make a difference.
"As well as the continued support from the local community, we would also like to say a special thank you to Dorothy Keith at the Station Hotel for giving us a space to continue with our required training during lockdown."
At present Ellon First Responders have vacancies for new recruits to join their team, with the next training sessions due to take place in August.
Anybody interested in finding out more about becoming a first responder in Ellon can visit the Ellon First Responders Facebook page or call Kenny on: 07501 753794.
