Coastal Villages Martham & Caister First Responders

26/10/2026

We would like to extend our thanks this week to our EOC staff💚

We are very lucky to have Shelley & Jen ,who both work within EOC, volunteer as CFRs!

Our EOC staff arguably have the most difficult job of taking those terrifying 999 calls, listening, logging and dealing with the situation to organising and coordinating resources, triaging, planning and implementing the help someone might need in the most difficult time of their lives.

We know how much they care and we know how much their job means to them, we know how much of every call they carry, along with every with boot on the ground🚑

Happy EOC week to you all, thank you to all of you for looking after us on every job, beginning to end, and especially to all of you who also volunteer, like Shelley & Jen, your down time as CFRs supporting the communities where you live and work, your experience, support and knowledge from all sides is invaluable🫶

22/10/2026

‘You cut that lady’s bra off - are you OK with that?’

Peter McLaughlin administered CPR and used a defibrillator on a female stranger to save her life. To apply the pads of the defib, he cut off the patient’s bra.

Peter was visiting his local job centre on behalf of his employer, organising a stall at an upcoming job fair. As he was preparing to leave, he noticed a crowd of people gathering.

He suddenly heard: ‘Where’s the first aider, we need a defibrillator!’

Outside of his day job, Peter is a volunteer Emergency Responder for St John Ambulance. Jumping into action, he arrived at the centre of the scene: a woman had collapsed in the toilets, hit her head, and wasn’t breathing.

“I did a quick DRABC check but there was no output at all. I started CPR and was shouting for a defibrillator. Two defibs were brought within a couple of minutes. I lifted the lady’s top up and she had a bra on which I needed to cut through so I could stick the defib pads on her.

“Normally I carry scissors with me, but I didn’t have any that day - so I shouted for someone to bring me a pair. I cut straight up through the middle of her bra.

“The defib analysed her heart rhythm but indicated no shock advised so I continued with the chest compressions.”

The patient started showing signs of life and was put into the recovery position. However, she went into cardiac arrest again shortly after. Peter began to administer the second round of CPR.

The police arrived from their base right next door, bringing a third defib with them. Their combined efforts revived the patient. The London Ambulance Service arrived and took over her care.

Giving CPR and defibrillation can stir up powerful emotions, and leave some first aiders feeling shaken. One of the officers on the scene was concerned for Peter's wellbeing, asking "‘You cut that lady’s bra off - are you OK with that?’"

“I told him I didn’t have a choice. I either cut the bra off to get the defib pads on her, or I don’t cut it off and she’s going to be leaving here in a very different situation.

“The main thing for me was that lady survived. In that situation, you don't see a man or a woman. You don’t think about gender. You just see a human. I did what I’ve been trained to do.”

13/10/2026

A valued EEAST paramedic has received devastating news. Their little boy has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and urgently needs a stem cell transplant.

To help raise awareness and encourage more people to join the stem cell register, EEAST colleagues in West Norfolk will be hosting a DKMS stem cell swabbing event at our King's Lynn Station on Monday 26 October 2026.

Joining the register is quick, simple and painless. If you're aged 16 to 55, all it takes is a simple cheek swab, but you could one day be the lifesaving match that someone with blood cancer desperately needs.

How can you help?
Volunteers and EEAST staff are welcome to attend on the event on the day to be swabbed and tested.

Members of the public - You can still help by registering online and requesting a home swab kit through DKMS. Visit: https://www.dkms.org.uk/

Every new person who joins the register increases the chances of finding a match, not only for this child and his family, but for blood cancer patients around the world.

A simple swab. A chance to save a life.

11/09/2026

🚑Monthly Training 🚑

This month our First Responders were put through their paces by Specialist Paramedic and our trainer Freya.

We undertook 4 scenarios each and in pairs, honing our skills in patient assessment, treatment, pathways and handover.

EEAST first responders usually arrive first on scene so training like this is invaluable, it ensures our patients recieve the best care, correct response and timely treatment⭐️

It was a fantastic evening, working together as a team with Coastal, Potter & Great Yarmouth CFRs 💚

09/09/2026

Happy Emergency Services Day to all our wonderful First Reaponders🥳 🚑

💚Shelley (Catfield)
💚Julie (Ludham)
💚Faye (Ludham)
💚Sherry (Ingham)
💚Jen (Potter Heigham)
💚Tayla (Rollesby)
💚Kevin (Martham)
💚Laura (Martham)
💚Vicki (Hemsby)
💚Mike (Caister)

Our Community First Responders volunteer their valuable time, trained & deployed by East of England Ambulance Service to life threatening 999 calls within 10 miles of where they live and work.

They are the first link in survival within their community & they work alongside our wonderful Crews🚑, Fire Service🚒, Police🚓, Independent Lifeboats 🧡,RNLI🧡, SARS🚑, NARS🚑, EAAA🚁, HM Coastguard🩵 and Lowland Search & Rescue⛑️.

We wish them ALL a fabulous day dedicated to all their hard work, commitment and perseverance in saving lives every single day 💚

Happy Emergency Services Day!

Thank you to all the emergency staff across the country for their hard work 💙

With roles ranging from call handlers and paramedics to technicians and care assistants, it takes a whole team!

07/09/2026

A little LEGO rescue with a big message!

Behind every ambulance response is a team dedicated to helping people through some of their most difficult moments.

Your donations help provide additional equipment, training and wellbeing initiatives above and beyond what NHS funding can provide.

Thank you for making a difference 💚

25/08/2026

Have you seen this? The Out Of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Desk - allowing Advanced Care Paramedics to video call the scene and ensure that the instructions given by the Call Handler are being followed correctly until a CFR or Ambulance can arrive on scene.
An amazing innovation by EEAST that has already had a huge impact.

🏆 EEAST shortlisted for national HSJ Award

We're delighted that our Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Desk has been shortlisted for the Digitising Patient Care Award at the HSJ Awards 2026.

Using live video technology through GoodSAM Instant on Scene, our Advanced Paramedics in Critical Care can connect directly with callers during suspected cardiac arrests, providing expert guidance on CPR and defibrillator use before ambulance crews arrive.

Launched as a pilot in September 2025, the service is already showing promising results and is helping support patients and bystanders during some of the most critical moments in emergency care.

This innovative project was made possible through funding from the East of England Ambulance Service Charity, thanks to a £142,000 grant from NHS Charities Together in partnership with Omaze, alongside support from Essex & Herts Air Ambulance .

Congratulations to everyone involved in this pioneering service and thank you to the supporters who helped make it possible.

18/08/2026

Its wonderful seeing and meeting all the children, both local and on holiday, enjoying our Norfolk Broads and beaches 🏖

Parents and guardians are doing a fabulous job along with our RNLI lifeguards keeping them safe and making sure everyone has a wonderful summer🥰

Remember to swim between the flags on the beach and wear a Life Jacket on the Broads.

should you or anyone else need help, just call 999💚

07/08/2026

10/07/2026

Welcome to Rollesby Pavilion!
This month has seen us move to our new training venue, where we will be meeting each month with our volunteer trainer Specialist Paramedic Freya, to renew and expand our knowledge and skills.

Freya is pictured here with Team Leader Shelley, Community First Responders Kevin and Julie, and two of our newest recruits, Laura and Tayla, who will be attending their induction training course next month.

We'll be at the Rollesby Fun Day on 18th July, so come along, say hello, and try your hand at CPR. We'd love to meet you and you never know – it might inspire you to become a Community First Responder!