2 weeks Ago
An impressive 54 SECAmb volunteers were recognised for their life-saving skills at a recent annual conference. Awards were given to SECAmb volunteers for their work in communities across Kent, Surrey and Sussex. The return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) awards were presented to the volunteers at the Trust’s second annual volunteer conference.
Chief paramedic officer, Jaqualine Lindridge, presented the awards at the East Sussex National Golf Course on Saturday, April 5. These awards highlight the important role SECAmb volunteers play in helping the Trust reach its high cardiac arrest survival rate. In the 12 months between April 2023 and March 2024, SECAmb teams, volunteers and members of the public saved a total of 307 lives.
SECAmb’s community first responders and emergency responders are vital to these efforts. A SECAmb community first responder was present at eight per cent of resuscitation attempts, and in nearly half of those cases, they were the first on the scene. More than 200 SECAmb community first responders, chaplains and support volunteers attended the conference.
This event put a spotlight on the difference volunteers make in their local areas. Head of community resilience, Danny Dixon, said: "This year’s conference was a huge success! "It’s important to celebrate our incredible team of volunteers and this is a great way to recognise their fantastic achievements and show how deeply appreciative we are as a Trust of their commitment and dedication. "Without them, it wouldn’t be possible to achieve all that we do and so I would like to say a huge thank you, for helping us keep our local communities safe.
" SECAmb’s chief executive, Simon Weldon, welcomed guests to the event. Danny Dixon, the Trust’s new head of community resilience, then gave an introduction. Volunteers took part in discussions on several topics throughout the day.
Guest speakers included chief operating officer at SECAmb, Jen Allan, who discussed the impact volunteers have on the Trust’s daily work. Joe Crook, volunteer lead at Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE), gave an overview of the national strategy for ambulance volunteers. Other topics included treating patients with hearing impairment, addressing health inequalities, and learning about cardiac arrest.
Paramedic Daniel Jackson, from Medway, shared his journey from starting as a volunteer to becoming a paramedic. Attendees also heard from Anthony Bennett, a speaker known as ‘Miracle Man’. He told his story of becoming extremely ill in 2006 after contracting three serious viruses.
He had to learn to talk and walk again after his illness, but made a full recovery. He then helped win a £7.5 million charity partnership between Whitbread PLC and Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.
Mr Bennett also spoke about motivating teams around the world to raise funds for a new cardiac wing at the hospital. Guests were able to look around an aircraft operated by Air Ambulance Charity Kent, Surrey, Sussex during the event. Anyone interested in volunteering with SECAmb can find out more about becoming a volunteer and making a difference within local communities.
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