Coventry emergency volunteer medics will have key role in Games venue - The Coventry Observer

Coventry emergency volunteer medics will have key role in Games venue

Coventry Editorial 28th Jul, 2022   0

COVENTRY-BASED charity Godiva Voluntary Medical Responders (GVMR) will play an important role in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The community first responders (CFRs) will be on call at the Coventry Building Society (CBS) Arena during the competition.

The dedicated group of volunteers, who are trained by West Midlands Ambulance Service to a nationally accredited qualification standard, are often first on scene and deal with life-threatening medical situations until an ambulance can reach the patient.

GVMR members attend the most urgent life-threatening calls, including cardiac arrest, heart attack, stroke, respiratory problems, diabetic emergencies, serious trauma and choking.




The group’s co-ordinator, Ian Jenner, who has been a CFR for more than 20 years, said: “Because we are based in the community, we can often reach a patient before an ambulance can.

“That’s what we’ll be doing at the games.”


CFRs are unpaid and the charity is funded entirely by voluntary donations.

The funding is used towards the costs of the response car and the expensive equipment and kit they carry.

Equipment includes an ECG/defibrillator and heart monitor, an independent defibrillator, communication radios and link to West Midlands Ambulance Service, helmets (for dangerous scenes), airway management kit and oxygen and a trauma management kit, such as tourniquets and specialist bandages.

Ian added: “We always need donations and we are always extremely grateful for them.

“Without them, we can’t do what we do.”

CFR training includes theoretical and practical learning and assessment and is updated regularly to ensure knowledge and skills are maintained.

Advertising

Advertise with the Coventry Observer to reach your audience

Reader Travel

Check out all of the latest reader travel offers to get your hands on some free gifts.

Public Notices

View and download all of the public notices in the Coventry Observer.

Buy Photos

Buy photos online from the Coventry Observer newspaper.