Melksham first responder is a community hero

A LOCAL Community first responder has been nominated as a Melksham News Community Hero.

We recently launched a spotlight on ‘community heroes’ feature in the paper and appealed for nominations from local readers.

One reader proposed Tony Mayell who volunteers in his free time as a Community First Responder. The role requires Tony to be ready to respond to medical emergencies in Melksham. And as a Community First Responder he will often be first on scene of an emergency for incidents such as cardiac arrest, chest pain, breathing difficulties, unconscious patients, fitting and strokes. He is expected to arrive on scene within eight minutes and very rarely fails to reach this target.

Tony, who has lived in Melksham all his life, has been doing the job on a volunteer basis for five years.

“Being a Community First Responder requires no previous medical experience as training is given,” he said.  “Equipment is also provided for each community responder including defibrillators and a wide range of medical tools. The responders  are provided with a phone which connects them with the main control room.

“Before I saw the advert in the paper for the role, I never knew it existed. I had also only ever done basic first aid at work, but the training they give you really prepares you for real life situations.

“I really enjoy it. I started doing it to improve my own community skills but also to give something back to the community where I have lived all my life.

“It’s very rewarding and I think it means a lot to the person needing treatment that I can get there so quick. I find the paramedics and ambulance service who arrive usually after me are really appreciative and I continue to help where I can after they arrive.

“I make time for it because I like doing it and I have support from my wife. Plus it gets me out of watching soaps – although it doesn’t seem to get me out of the washing up!”

If you would like to become a Community First Responder then you can find out more by contacting the Great Western Ambulance Service on 01179 280485.

• There are plenty of people  who work tirelessly for the town,  dedicate themselves to their favourite charity, or are simply a ‘good neighbour’ to others. 

You can nominate someone you know who you think deserves to be recognised as a community hero by emailing us at news@ melkshamnews.co.uk or calling us on 704761.