Kelly
Hayes is a volunteer with the community first responder scheme in Waltham
Forest.
Why did you want to be a
volunteer?
I have always admired the work of paramedics
so when I first heard about the project I immediately thought
what a fantastic way to support their work and to give something
back to my local community.
What do you do for a
living?
I am a pastoral manager for children aged 11
to 16. My job is to ensure that their social and emotional
wellbeing is looked after and to empower them with the tools
to remove any barriers they may have to learning.
What hours are you on
duty?
Being a community responder is very
rewarding and I volunteer as much time as I can: on average I do
around 20 hours a month. The scheme is very flexible and
any time spent volunteering is appreciated. As a unit we support
each other to develop a rota which provides weekend cover.
How often are you called each
shift?
Each shift is different, that’s what makes it
exciting and rewarding. I am called out almost every time I'm
on duty and attend anything from two to eight calls in
any one shift.
What sort of medical emergencies have
you attended?
I have been to a variety of different incidents including
patients who have had a seizure, are having difficulty breathing,
taken an overdose and even patients in cardiac arrest. The
ambulance crews are great and I learn something new every
shift.