Chesterfield Community First Responders

03/09/2026

Meet Eleanor, one of our newly qualified CFRs at Chesterfield Community First Responders. As with all new operational members, we crew them up for their first 3 months with other supportive and experienced members of the team to help them gain experience and knowledge "on the road". Eleanor has been crewed up with Brayden, another of our members juggling the demands of studying to become a Paramedic whilst finding the time to volunteer with the scheme.

Here's what Eleanor had to say about her experiences with the group so far:

"I have had a great time with my mentorship period being supported by Brayden and others within the CCFRs team. I have learnt so much and have become more confident in my work. I love volunteering with CCFRs, out and about on CFR11, and it’s provided me good experience with growing my carrier with the ambulance service."

We're glad you feel so supported Eleanor. Feeling that you can rely on your fellow team members is what being part of the big green family is all about!

fans East Midlands Ambulance Service Central Medical Services

31/08/2026

Some of you may have noticed we’ve upped our game over the last year or so. It started with becoming a registered charity, followed by registering with the fundraising regulator, registering for gift aid through HMRC and getting set up with PayPal Fund Giving and Just Giving.

We made a pledge to support our volunteers, just as much as the community we serve. We ensure newly qualified CFRs are supported consistently throughout their mentorship period and our equipment gets replaced once it reaches the end of its recommended operating life.

You may have also noticed we have introduced new routes to support the charity and community through our Community Educator programme and non-operational volunteer roles. We’ve already made a few visits to local schools and more visits are on the way.

TODAY, we’re pleased to announce the relaunch of our website at https://ccfrs-nhs.uk and brand new member management system. Working in partnership with THE ARCHANGEL NETWORK, we have helped develop a new CFR portal that is expected to role out nationally.

It’s a great time to join CHESTERFIELD COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS as we strive to become a flagship scheme, governed by dedicated medical practitioners, and supported by volunteers who champion our code of practice and conduct. In a nutshell, we are what we say we are, and always do what we’ll say we’ll do.

ORDINARY PEOPLE. EXTRAORDINARY RESPONSE.

fans Chesterfield Community First Responders

Ordinary people. Extraordinary response. 756 emergency calls attended last year by volunteers from Chesterfield.

26/08/2026

🚨 In an emergency, every minute counts.

If someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally, call 999 immediately and start CPR, following the call handler's instructions. Use an AED as soon as one is available and follow its spoken prompts until professional help takes over.

Here in Chesterfield, Community First Responders (CFRs) are dispatched by the East Midlands Ambulance Service Emergency Operations Centre just like an ambulance — trained to assess and treat you before the ambulance arrives, including basic life support, CPR and AED use.

Learn more and see how you can support your local responders: https://ccfrs-nhs.uk

— share this so someone you love knows what to do when it matters.

Midlands Ambulance Service

25/08/2026

🚑 Know when to call 999 vs 111 🚑

As Chesterfield Community First Responders, we're often asked when to call 999 and when NHS 111 is the right choice.

📞 Call 999 for a life-threatening emergency — such as a serious road-traffic accident, stroke, heart attack, signs of life-threatening illness, or an attempted su***de.

📱 Use NHS 111 when medical help is needed now but it is not life-threatening — it can direct you to urgent treatment, an out-of-hours GP, or other care.

If you're unsure, NHS 111 can check symptoms. If the condition changes or deteriorates, call 999.

Learn more: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services/when-to-call-999/

#999

— save this as a quick reminder of which number to call in different situations.

23/08/2026

Knowing basic first aid can save a life. If someone is unresponsive and not breathing normally, call 999 or 112 and start CPR immediately; use an AED if available. If unresponsive but breathing normally, place them in the recovery position. For choking, give up to five back blows then up to five abdominal thrusts, and call 999 if ineffective. For burns, cool the burn as quickly as possible. For urgent but non-life-threatening advice, use NHS 111. Full guidance: https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/first-aid/

21/08/2026

🤝 Make a real difference in Chesterfield! We are recruiting passionate volunteers to join us as Community Educators and Charity Support Workers.

Whether you want to deliver hands-on life-saving education in local schools and community groups, or assist behind the scenes with fundraising, event planning, and administration, we have a role for you!

No prior medical experience required – full training is provided.

Apply online today: https://ccfrs-nhs.uk/join-us

20/08/2026

A brilliant story from East Midlands Ambulance Service ❤️ A teenager has been reunited with the life-saving team after surviving a cardiac arrest at home. Moments like this show why every second counts — and why learning CPR and AED skills matters so much. Chesterfield Community First Responders or EMAS's Community Response Team teaches free CPR and AED sessions to people of all ages, and our community first responders volunteer to attend certain emergency calls in their area while an ambulance is on the way. Want to help your neighbours? Get in touch or come to a session.

While it was not possible for everyone involved in Flynn’s care to attend, the reunion provided an opportunity to reflect on the wider team effort behind his recovery.

15/08/2026

We've been out and about in Chesterfield today, highlighting the work our Chesterfield Community First Responders do and getting a bit of CPR instruction in for anyone willing to have a good at Chesterfield Borough Council 's Emergency Services Day today. Even Rory made an outing fans

11/08/2026

Our first Community Educator session was a great success last Tuesday. Our own resident Dr. Aidan Baker-Johal gave our new volunteers (and some old ones - welcome back to the family Smudge!) a fun introduction to basic teaching skills in readiness for our practical sessions later in the year.

02/08/2026

While doing any CPR will help improve the chance of survival, evidence shows that for high quality CPR, chest compressions should be performed at a rate of 100-120 beats per minute to help ensure the best chance of survival.

And the best way to get this rhythm into your muscle memory? Practice! Gran a manikin (or even a pillow), pop on an online metronome, and give it go.